Microsoft Halts Cloud Services for Israeli Unit Over Palestinian Spying
▼ Summary
– Microsoft terminated the Israel Ministry of Defense’s access to certain Azure and AI services after an investigation.
– The decision was based on findings that the technology was being used to store surveillance data on Palestinian phone calls.
– Microsoft’s policy prohibits the use of its technology for mass surveillance of civilians, a principle it applies globally.
– The investigation was initiated in August following a Guardian report on the Israeli military unit’s use of Azure for surveillance.
– Microsoft has faced internal and external criticism, including employee protests and firings, over its contracts with Israel.
In a significant move highlighting the ethical boundaries of technology, Microsoft has terminated specific cloud service subscriptions for an Israeli defense unit. This action follows an internal review that indicated the technology was being utilized to store surveillance data gathered from monitoring Palestinian phone communications. The decision underscores a firm corporate stance against enabling mass surveillance of civilian populations.
Microsoft officially announced the suspension of services last Thursday, directly impacting the Israel Ministry of Defense’s access to its Azure cloud storage and select artificial intelligence tools. The company’s leadership made it clear that its standard terms of service explicitly forbid using its platforms for widespread surveillance operations targeting civilians. Brad Smith, Microsoft’s Vice Chair and President, articulated this principle in a public blog post, stating the policy has been a global cornerstone of their operations for more than twenty years.
The investigation that prompted this decision began in August, catalyzed by investigative journalism from The Guardian. The news outlet had reported that Unit 8200, a prominent Israeli military intelligence division, was leveraging Azure to manage data obtained from monitoring activities in Gaza and the West Bank. Smith acknowledged the critical role of this external reporting, noting that customer privacy protections typically prevent Microsoft from proactively examining how clients use their services.
This incident occurs against a backdrop of mounting internal and external pressure on Microsoft concerning its business engagements in Israel. The company has faced vocal opposition from its own workforce; earlier this year, protests emerged during Microsoft’s 50th-anniversary event, and in August, employees staged a sit-in at Brad Smith’s office, which resulted in a temporary lockdown. In response to this employee activism, Microsoft has dismissed several staff members in recent months.
While the core review of the matter is complete, leading to the service discontinuation, Microsoft has confirmed that broader aspects of the situation remain under examination. The company declined to provide TechCrunch with specifics on what elements are still being assessed. This step represents a concrete application of Microsoft’s publicly stated policies on privacy and ethical technology use, reinforcing its commitment to building what it describes as “rock solid trust” with its global customer base.
(Source: TechCrunch)
