Microsoft Workers Protest AI Contracts with Israeli Military

Microsoft Workers Protest AI and Cloud Services Deal with Israeli Military

A group of Microsoft employees staged a protest during a company town hall meeting on Monday, opposing the company’s contracts to provide artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing services to the Israeli military.

Protest at Microsoft Town Hall

During the meeting at Microsoft’s corporate headquarters, CEO Satya Nadella was speaking about new products when five employees, standing nearby, revealed T-shirts that collectively spelled out the question:
“Does Our Code Kill Kids, Satya?”

The protest was live-streamed throughout the company, but Nadella continued speaking without addressing the demonstrators. Security personnel quickly approached the employees, tapped them on the shoulders, and escorted them out of the room.

Microsoft later issued a statement, saying:

“We provide many avenues for all voices to be heard. Importantly, we ask that this be done in a way that does not cause a business disruption. If that happens, we ask participants to relocate.”

Context: AI and Cloud Services Used in Israeli Military Operations

The protest follows a recent Associated Press (AP) investigation, which revealed that Microsoft and OpenAI’s advanced AI models were used in an Israeli military program to identify bombing targets in Gaza and Lebanon.

The AP report also highlighted a 2023 Israeli airstrike that mistakenly hit a civilian vehicle in Lebanon, killing three young girls and their grandmother.

Microsoft has not publicly addressed the findings of the AP report, nor has it responded to inquiries regarding possible disciplinary action against the protesting employees.

Rising Internal Tensions at Microsoft

This is not the first time Microsoft workers have protested the company’s involvement with the Israeli military.

• In October 2023, Microsoft fired two employees who helped organize an unauthorized vigil for Palestinian refugees at its headquarters. The company said their termination was in line with internal policies but did not provide further details.
• A group of employees, operating under the name “No Azure for Apartheid,” has been advocating against Microsoft’s Azure cloud services being used by the Israeli military.
• Some Microsoft employees have also expressed support for Israel, arguing that pro-Palestinian activism in the company has made them feel unsafe.

AI and Cloud Usage Increased After October 7 Attack

The AP report, based on internal company data, revealed that usage of Microsoft’s AI models by the Israeli military through Azure increased nearly 200 times following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.

Microsoft employees have actively discussed the findings on internal forums, with many questioning whether the company is violating its stated principles on human rights and the ethical use of AI.

Calls for Accountability

Abdo Mohamed, a researcher and data scientist fired after the October vigil, criticized Microsoft’s leadership, saying the company is prioritizing profits over ethics.

“The demands are clear: Satya Nadella and Microsoft executives need to answer to their workers by dropping contracts with the Israeli military.”

What’s Next?

Microsoft has yet to respond to mounting internal and external pressure regarding its role in Israeli military operations. As tensions rise both within the company and globally, employees and advocacy groups are expected to continue pushing for corporate accountability and ethical AI use.

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