Microsoft Under Suspected Delays in Examining Israel's Use of Tech in Gaza According to Recent Allegations
Microsoft is facing mounting criticism and an investigation over allegations that its Azure cloud platform has been used by Israel's military Unit 8200 to store a vast trove of intelligence data on Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
The controversy erupted when a report published by The Guardian alleged that the sensitive data, including audio files of millions of calls, has been used to plan military operations and airstrikes. Microsoft has stressed that there is "no evidence to date" that Azure was used directly to harm people in the Gaza conflict, but concerns remain about facilitating mass surveillance and possible human rights abuses.
Investigations have revealed that in 2021, the head of Unit 8200 gained support from Microsoft's CEO to create a customized, segregated area within Azure to accommodate this extensive intelligence collection, which exceeds what Israeli military servers can handle. Sources describe the surveillance data as growing continuously and being used to justify arrests even when other reasons are insufficient, leaving almost no one in the occupied territories "clean" of intelligence scrutiny.
These developments have raised significant ethical and legal concerns about the role of tech companies in conflicts and the potential misuse of cloud computing platforms for surveillance and military purposes.
In response to the allegations, a shareholder resolution has been submitted and supported by 60 investors, seeking to push Microsoft to evaluate its effectiveness in promoting "human rights due diligence processes" related to its AI tools. The Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, an international congregation of Catholic women, is the lead filer of the resolution.
The protests have stemmed from the group No Azure for Apartheid (NOAA), which was founded by former Microsoft employees. Demonstrations against Microsoft's contracts with Israel have been ongoing, with many of the demonstrators being Microsoft employees.
Microsoft has acknowledged working with the Israeli government to protect its national cyberspace against external threats. However, an internal review by the company found "no evidence" its products have been used to harm people in Gaza. The company is conducting a second investigation into the Israeli military's use of the Azure cloud computing platform in Gaza.
If the accusations are true, this would constitute a violation of Microsoft's standard terms of service. The No Azure for Apartheid campaign has called for Microsoft to terminate all Azure contracts and partnerships with the Israeli military.
Controversy has lingered about how various Microsoft products are being used by Israel's military in Gaza. In April, during an event marking Microsoft's 50th anniversary, Mustafa Suleyman, Microsoft's head of AI, was interrupted by a protester who accused him of being a war profiteer.
Other major companies, including Palantir, Lockheed Martin, Booz Allen Hamilton, Google, have faced similar criticism for their contracts with Israel. The resolution is set to face a vote at Microsoft's annual shareholder meeting in December.
The Israel-Palestine conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 62,000 people and injuries to about 156,000. The investigation and the shareholder resolution come amidst a broader discussion about the responsibilities of tech companies in promoting human rights and avoiding complicity in conflicts.
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