Why Israel's outsized influence on global tech is worrying
Why Israel's outsized influence on global tech is worrying newspress_en Sat, 08/22/2026 - 05:38 Science & Technology When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that anyone carrying a smartphone was holding “a piece of Israel” in their hand, the remark initially sounded like a sales pitch for the country’s technology sector. Recent developments surrounding the iPhone 17e, however,…
Israel's significant influence on the global technology industry has raised concerns. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu likened carrying a smartphone to holding "a piece of Israel" in one's hand. This sentiment was reinforced when it was revealed that Apple's research and development teams in Israel contributed to key technologies in the iPhone 17e, such as its cellular modem.
Although not the sole contributor, Israel has embedded itself in the global tech sector through design, development, and production of various components including chips, algorithms, communications, and cybersecurity. This presence can be traced through acquisitions by major global companies like Apple, Amazon, Nvidia, Intel, and Google.
Israel's dominance in the tech sector is evident in its high R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP, extensive network of multinational R&D centres, and a strong pool of technical expertise, much of which comes from the country's military and intelligence service. The concentration of expertise in Israel raises questions about its impact on the global tech ecosystem and the national security implications of its growing influence.
Written by urgent.news from Al Majalla English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
