This workshop will introduce the growing problem of Big Tech’s entanglement with fascist/authoritarian governments, particularly in the U.S. and Israel. We will start with a broad overview of the current events and consequences of this collusion, especially as it relates to the surveillance and persecution of activists working for Palestinian liberation. What are the ultimate goals of these techno-fascist players? What tools do they use to spy on and censor us? How does AI fit into this picture? And what precautions can we take to protect ourselves and our communities as we take action both online and in the streets?

OMAR ZAHZAH is a writer, poet, organizer of Lebanese Palestinian descent, and Assistant Professor of Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas (AMED) Studies at San Francisco State University. Omar has covered digital repression in relation to Palestine as a freelance journalist since May 2021, with work appearing in such outlets as Al Jazeera, Middle East Eye, Electronic Intifada, Mondoweiss, CounterPunch, and more. Omar holds a PhD in Comparative Literature from UCLA. His latest book is Terms of Servitude: Zionism, Silicon Valley, and Digital Settler Colonialism in the Palestinian Liberation Struggle, published by Seven Stories Press Sept. 2025.

MICA is a community organizer in central VT concerned about digital security and privacy, surveillance capitalism, and the rise of techno-fascism in the U.S. and beyond. They teach workshops on the political and practical aspects of these issues, and volunteer with the Privacy Possums, a collective that helps individuals improve privacy and security protocols on their devices.

This event will be virtual, with an in-person community participation event available in Brattleboro. In person participants asked to test ahead of time and wear masks. Please register for event location.