The lawsuits, filed this week, claim that Texas Instruments, AMD and Intel negligently failed to track chips that dodged export curbs and were later used in systems that killed civilians last year.

According to the complaints, the firms ignored years of public reporting, government warnings and shareholder pressure while chips flowed through dodgy distributors into Russia and Iran.

The legal team said the companies continued to use what it called “high-risk” sales channels without tightening controls, putting profits ahead of human lives.

Lead attorney Mikal Watts said intermediaries placing bulk online orders faced little scrutiny beyond having to tick a box.

“There are export lists. We know exactly what requires a license and what doesn't. And companies know who they're selling to. But instead, they rely on a checkbox that says, 'I'm not shipping to Putin.' That's it. No enforcement. No accountability,” Watts said.

Damages sought include funeral expenses, medical costs and exemplary damages designed to punish conduct and deter similar behaviour.

For the plaintiffs, the aim is to choke off supply chains feeding US technology into weapons used against civilians, rather than collect cheques.

The legal team said in a press statement: “They want to send a clear message that American companies must take responsibility when their technologies are weaponised and used to commit harm across the globe. Corporations must be held accountable when their unlawful decisions made in the name of profit directly cause the death of innocents and widespread human suffering.”

Watts said the pressure would increase if more civilians joined the case, driving up costs and forcing changes.

“We want to make this process so expensive and painful that companies are forced to act. That is our contribution to stopping the war against civilians.”