Microsoft announced on Thursday that it has taken action to suspend services to a specific unit within the Israeli military. This decision follows a company review that revealed the unit was using Microsoft’s artificial intelligence and cloud computing products for mass surveillance of Palestinians.
The Associated Press and The Guardian had previously reported on the Israeli Ministry of Defence utilizing Microsoft’s Azure platform to support military operations in Gaza and the West Bank. This included storing extensive data from mobile phone calls made by Palestinians in these regions. In response to these reports, Microsoft conducted internal reviews.
Brad Smith, Microsoft’s vice-chair and president, stated in a blog post that the company is committed to upholding its terms of service and does not support technology that enables mass surveillance of civilians.
An investigation by the AP highlighted a surge in the Israeli military’s use of Microsoft products following an attack by Hamas militants in October 2023. The report revealed significant usage of cloud storage and AI-driven language translation services by the Israeli military.
Furthermore, it was reported that Israel’s military leveraged Microsoft Azure for compiling and analyzing data gathered through mass surveillance, such as phone calls and text messages, to enhance targeting for airstrikes.
After acknowledging its provision of advanced AI and cloud computing services during the Gaza conflict, Microsoft initiated a review that revealed potential violations of its terms of service. The company did not disclose the specific unit within the Israeli military impacted by the service suspension.
Pro-Palestinian groups, including the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) and No Azure for Apartheid, praised Microsoft’s decision to suspend services to the Israeli military unit. They have advocated for a complete cessation of ties between Microsoft and the Israeli government.
In response to global concerns regarding its involvement in the conflict, Microsoft has faced protests and employee terminations. The company has not provided detailed responses to inquiries regarding the potential shift of surveillance operations to other Azure subscriptions.
While an Israeli security official downplayed the impact of Microsoft’s decision on military operations, former Microsoft employee Hossam Nasr, involved in protests, viewed the suspension as a positive step but urged for broader actions to be taken.
The move by Microsoft has been described as a partial victory by critics, who emphasize the need for further scrutiny and action to ensure compliance with ethical standards.