Dozens of Microsoft employees and activists staged protests at the tech giant’s Redmond, Washington headquarters, occupying the office of President Brad Smith. The action, led by the group No Azure for Apartheid, followed investigative reports alleging that Israel’s military used Microsoft’s Azure cloud to store vast quantities of intercepted Palestinian communications—claims the company has now put under independent review.
Seven protesters—including current Microsoft employees—were arrested during the breach. Two workers, Anna Hattle and Riki Fameli, were subsequently terminated, with two more dismissals announced the next day. Microsoft cited serious policy violations and safety concerns for the expulsions.
The protests were triggered by fears that Microsoft’s cloud services were aiding surveillance and military operations in Gaza. Protesters demanded the company cut ties with Israel and offer reparations, calling its services complicit in human rights violations. Microsoft has launched an urgent investigation and stated it prohibits harmful use of its platforms.
Despite the allegations, Microsoft maintains that it found no proof its services were knowingly used for illicit surveillance. While the company is launching a third-party review, it strongly rejects that it has spied through its platforms.
