CRITICAL DATA & FINANCIAL ABSTRACTION

AT LEAST I'M MAKING MONEY

Is war more profitable than peace? And if yes, how much are we already part of it?

# ARMS INDUSTRY
# INDEX FUNDS
# INVISIBLE EXPOSURE
# DATA VISIBILITY
# DEFENCE LOBBYING
# NOT DISCLOSED
# CRITICAL DATA PRACTICE
# FINANCIAL ABSTRACTION

INVESTIGATOR: Carolina Sofia Bischof BA BSc
INSTITUTION: University of Arts Linz, Interface Cultures
EMAIL: hello@carolinasofia.art

THE INVISIBLE LINK

Would you consciously decide to invest in war? Do you consciously choose to use products from companies whose CEO invests in war?

These thoughts started with Spotify, whose CEO Daniel Ek personally invested in Helsing, a Munich-based software and defence company founded in 2021, through his investment firm Prima Materia. When this became public, many people, including me, wanted to cancel their subscriptions.

People did not want their money, even indirectly, to fund war. In my notes app you can read “04.07.2025: work title: At least I'm making money” Info graphic about ETFs and where the money really goes to.

Who would have known that this is not fiction. The data is there. You just need to know where to look.

SCALING EXPOSURE

THE 1 BILLION SECONDS PARADOX

1 MILLION SECONDS

11.6 Days

Used to illustrate the incomprehensible scales of global defense budgets compared to civilian wealth.

1 BILLION SECONDS

31.7 Years

Used to illustrate the incomprehensible scales of global defense budgets compared to civilian wealth.

1 TRILLION SECONDS

31,709 Years

Used to illustrate the incomprehensible scales of global defense budgets compared to civilian wealth.

THE INSTALLATION

A cold, clean metal podium resembling the sterile aesthetic of the defense industry.

Featuring interactive dials representing three analytical filters: Military Revenue, Lobbying Costs, and Occupation Involvement. Turn the knobs to visualize how our index funds shift dynamically.

INTERFACE

FILTERING THE LEDGER

THE METHODOLOGY

We track exposure across the world's most trusted index funds by cross-referencing SIPRI data, LobbyFacts, and local corporate registries.

SOURCE_DB: SIPRI_2024

[SYS_OP: RECORD_ID_BOE]

{
  "name": "Boeing",
  "industry": "Industrials",
  "sub_industry": "Aerospace & Defense",
  "military_revenue_2024": "28.106.000.000€",
  "total_revenue_2024": "61.198.400.000€",
  "arms_revenue_pct": "46%",
  "lobbying_cost_EU": "800.000€",
}

[SYS_OP: RECORD_ID_PAL]

{
  "name": "Palantir Technologies",
  "industry": "Information Technology",
  "sub_industry": "Application Software",
  "military_revenue_2024": "n/d",
  "total_revenue_2024": "2.636.266.440€",
  "arms_revenue_pct": "n/d (Classified)",
  "lobbying_cost_EU": "100.000€",
}

[SYS_OP: RECORD_ID_MIC]

{
  "name": "Microsoft",
  "industry": "Information Technology",
  "sub_industry": "Systems Software",
  "military_revenue_2024": "n/d (Dual Use)",
  "total_revenue_2024": "225.512.240.000€",
  "arms_revenue_pct": "n/d",
  "lobbying_cost_EU": "7.000.000€",
}

FILTER 02: LOBBY COSTS

IS WAR MORE PROFITABLE THAN PEACE?

Registration is a prerequisite for accessing EU institutions. Sourced directly from LobbyFacts EU, these figures outline exactly who buys influence in parliament halls when billions are allocated for "modernization" and militarization.

SIPRI Top 100

STOCKHOLM INTERNATIONAL PEACE RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Independent institute founded in 1966, widely cited as the authoritative open source on global arms. Ranks the largest arms-producing and military services companies.

LobbyFacts EU

CORPORATE EUROPE OBSERVATORY & LOBBYCONTROL

Reconstructs the EU Transparency Register. Tracks how much defense contractors spend to shape regional defense and defense-procurement policies.

Who Profits

OCCUPATION ECONOMY RESEARCH

Exposes commercial involvement of Israeli and international corporations in occupation economics, infrastructure expansion, and security architecture.

CAROLINA SOFIA BISCHOF

An artist and engineer based in Vienna/Linz, working with interactive installations, metal fabrication, electronics, and data research. She has a background in modern dance as well as engineering and media art.

Her practice explores how technological and financial systems shape social and political realities. Her work has been presented at the Ars Electronica Festival, MQ ART BOX in Vienna, and Speculum Artium in Slovenia.

[VISIT: CAROLINASOFIA.ART]

COLLABORATIONS & CREDITS

ARTISTIC & TECHNICAL

Carmen Córdoba Martínez – Unity prototype development, display aesthetics
Markus Lagler – Structural engineering & metal fabrication guidance
Joshua Mattson – Architectural models & shader work

RESEARCH & ACADEMIC

Leandro Bischof – Economic research framework & masters collaboration
Max Hollweg (ATTAC Austria) – Advocacy research support
Manuela Naveau – Mentorship and structural critique