Microsoft has dismissed two workers who disrupted its 50th anniversary celebration by protesting its collaboration with the Israeli military on artificial intelligence projects, according to representatives advocating for the employees.
The company charged one of the workers with misconduct in a termination letter, accusing them of seeking to gain attention and cause substantial disruption to the event. The other employee had already resigned, but Microsoft demanded her departure five days sooner than planned.
The demonstrations kicked off on Friday as Microsoft software engineer Ibtihal Aboussad approached the stage where a company executive was detailing new AI product features and Microsoft’s long-term aspirations. Aboussad vociferously challenged the corporation’s ethical commitment to AI, accusing Microsoft of supplying “AI weapons” to the Israeli military, leading to massive casualties in her region.
The interruption required Mustafa Suleyman, Microsoft’s AI CEO, to pause his presentation which was being live-streamed from the Redmond, Washington campus. Attendees of the event included prominent figures such as Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and former CEO Steve Ballmer.
Responding calmly, Suleyman acknowledged the protest, expressing his willingness to listen. Despite this, Aboussad continued her protest, accusing the company and its representatives of having “blood on their hands,” and she threw a keffiyeh, symbolizing solidarity with Palestinians, onto the stage before security escorted her out.
Another protester later joined the fray. Microsoft employee Vaniya Agrawal also interrupted proceedings. After the events, Aboussad, who was stationed at Microsoft’s Canadian HQ in Toronto, was informed of her immediate dismissal in a call with HR.
These actions come in the wake of a probe showcasing the use of Microsoft and OpenAI’s AI models in Israeli military operations for targeting during conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, with an incident in 2023 involving civilian casualties.
Microsoft’s termination letter suggested Aboussad’s concerns could have been raised confidentially and criticized her manner of protest for being “hostile” and “inappropriate,” forcing security intervention.
Meanwhile, Agrawal, who had resigned and was due to leave soon, was notified by email that her resignation was expedited.
This is not the first protest against Microsoft’s contracts with Israel. Earlier instances included protests during a meeting with CEO Satya Nadella this past February.
Microsoft offered a statement affirming its commitment to having all voices heard, provided it does not disrupt business operations. Protesters not aligning with this are asked to move locations. The company emphasizes its adherence to ethical business practices.
Microsoft initially remained tight-lipped about additional actions post-protests, yet both Aboussad and Agrawal foresaw repercussions as they experienced access revocation to their company accounts soon after the event.
This incident is reminiscent of protests involving Google employees who were dismissed after challenging a similar contract with the Israeli government through sit-ins at various office locations last year. Those employees have since appealed to the National Labor Relations Board in hopes of regaining their positions.