Five employees of Microsoft were removed from a meeting with the company’s CEO for protesting against contracts involving artificial intelligence and cloud computing services provided to the Israeli military. The protest followed an investigation which disclosed that advanced AI models from Microsoft and OpenAI were being used by the Israeli military to select bombing targets during conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. The report also included details of a mistaken Israeli airstrike in 2023 that killed members of a Lebanese family, including three young girls and their grandmother.
The CEO of Microsoft, Satya Nadella, was presenting new product information during a town hall meeting at the company’s headquarters in Redmond, Washington, when the incident occurred. During Nadella’s presentation, workers near him revealed T-shirts that, when lined up, asked the question “Does Our Code Kill Kids, Satya?” This protest was streamed live throughout the company, and Nadella continued speaking, appearing not to acknowledge the protesters. Two individuals swiftly managed the situation by escorting the workers from the room.
Microsoft has expressed its commitment to allowing all voices to be heard, yet emphasized the importance of avoiding business disruptions. The company noted that if such a disruption occurs, they request participants to relocate. They reiterated their commitment to upholding high standards in their business operations. While asked about potential disciplinary actions for the protestors, Microsoft did not comment further on the matter.
In an earlier incident, two employees were dismissed for participating in an unauthorized vigil for Palestinian refugees organized during lunchtime at the company’s headquarters. Microsoft, adhering to its internal policy, terminated their employment without providing specific reasons. There has been ongoing internal concern among some employees regarding Microsoft’s services to the Israeli military via its Azure cloud platform. Simultaneously, some staff members have expressed support for Israel, indicating that others’ pro-Palestinian stances create an uncomfortable atmosphere for them.
The report, based on internal company data, reveals a considerable increase in the use of AI models by the Israeli military through Azure after an attack by Hamas in 2023. The report was widely shared within Microsoft through social media and internal systems, sparking a discussion on whether the company’s actions were aligned with its stated values of defending human rights and preventing harm through the use of AI.
Abdo Mohamed, a former Microsoft data scientist who was terminated over the vigil, has criticized the company for prioritizing profits over its commitments to human rights. He and a group of employees known as No Azure for Apartheid are advocating for Microsoft to cease contracts with the Israeli military. They urge CEO Satya Nadella and other executives to reconsider these partnerships in response to employee concerns.
