Ethics in Tech: On an Issue Particularly Sensitive to Germans

Published on May 6, 2025, filed under misc (feed). (Share this on Mastodon or Bluesky?)

The Holocaust (Shoah) was a genocide. For Germans, one lesson has been—or should have been—never to engage in and tolerate any genocide ever again.

Collaboration with people, groups, or nations engaged in genocides appears to be acceptance or even support of genocides.

While this in most schools ethical concern was probably not as abstract in the past as it may appear, since 2023 ^*, this has become a specific ethical concern for Germans, given Israel’s crimes and genocide against Palestinians. ^†

Now, there are Germans who put support for Israel over everything—and, both naively and ironically, undermine said lesson from the German genocide against Jewish people. With their unconditional support, they end up allowing for exceptions to genocides that, if you think about it further, gets very dark, very quickly (and brings us to the genocide dilemma).

For other Germans, the situation isn’t any less bizarre. Personally, I experienced this recently, when a known Israeli tech company asked me about a collaboration. Curious under other circumstances, I turned the collaboration down, pointing to the fact that I wouldn’t have collaborated with any German companies during the Holocaust, either ^‡—because it would have effectively supported the genocide against Jews.

If you put it all together, however, this isn’t really about Germans or tech. This affects everyone, including you: Who are we and how do we respond to crimes like genocides? Do you support all, some, or no genocides?

^* At least since 2024, when the first independent organizations established the fact of a genocide.

^† For a larger context, consider the Nakba.

^‡ This is simplified, sure. As a German in Nazi Germany, it would have taken more than not collaborating, like joining the resistance and/or leaving the country.

About Me

I’m Jens (long: Jens Oliver Meiert), and I’m a web developer, manager, and author. I’ve been working as a technical lead and engineering manager for small and large enterprises, I’m an occasional contributor to web standards (like HTML, CSS, WCAG), and I write and review books for O’Reilly and Frontend Dogma.

I love trying things, not only in web development and engineering management, but also in other areas like philosophy. Here on meiert.com I share some of my experiences and views. (I value you being critical, interpreting charitably, and giving feedback.)