WASHINGTON, United States: Tensions are running high at Microsoft after the tech giant terminated four employees for staging protests against the company’s alleged ties with Israel through its Azure cloud platform. The move has ignited outrage among activists and raised concerns about the company’s approach to internal dissent.
The protests, organized under the banner “No Azure for Apartheid,” accused Microsoft of enabling Israel’s surveillance and military operations by providing cloud storage and infrastructure support. Employees demanded that the company end its contracts with the Israeli government and offer reparations to affected Palestinian communities.
The situation escalated when employees Anna Hattle and Riki Fameli staged a sit-in at the office of Microsoft President Brad Smith. Both were subsequently terminated via voicemail, with the company citing “serious safety concerns” and violations of its code of conduct. Two others, Nisreen Jaradat and Julius Shan, were also dismissed shortly after.
Authorities later confirmed that seven protesters, including current and former employees, were arrested after occupying company premises during the demonstrations. While the protests were largely peaceful, police labeled them disruptive to business operations.
The controversy intensified after reports revealed that Israeli military surveillance agencies had been using Microsoft’s Azure infrastructure to store and analyze massive volumes of recorded calls from Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. Following the backlash, Microsoft hired law firm Covington & Burling LLP to conduct an independent review but maintained that it supports free expression—provided it does not compromise workplace safety and productivity.
This incident highlights a growing clash in Silicon Valley, where tech workers are increasingly vocal about ethical concerns tied to their companies’ global partnerships. Microsoft’s response signals a strict zero-tolerance stance toward activism that disrupts business operations.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.