Cloud Services Limited After Mass Surveillance Allegations Confirmed
Microsoft has cut access to some of its Azure cloud services previously used by an Israeli defense unit following an internal investigation into the mass surveillance of civilians in Gaza and the West Bank.
The decision follows a report by The Guardian in August, which claimed that Israel’s military was using Microsoft Azure to store mobile phone recordings of Palestinians under broad surveillance operations. After a two-month review, Microsoft President Brad Smith confirmed that the company found evidence supporting parts of the report.
“We do not provide technology to facilitate mass surveillance of civilians,” Smith said in a message to Microsoft employees posted online.
Tech Workers and Rights Groups Applaud Move
Smith clarified that while Microsoft has restricted certain services, the move does not affect the company’s cybersecurity support for Israel and other nations in the region. The decision was reviewed with Israel’s Ministry of Defense to ensure compliance with Microsoft’s ethical guidelines.
The response was welcomed by human rights groups and tech industry activists. CAIR (Council on American Islamic Relations) and the campaign group No Azure for Apartheid praised the step as a victory for tech worker activism.
“This is a welcome step and a point of vindication for those brave tech workers who stood up and protested,” said Imraan Siddiqi, executive director of CAIR Washington.
Microsoft is among several major tech firms under fire for their involvement in Israeli military operations amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The Israeli assault has killed tens of thousands and displaced nearly the entire population of Gaza, with global rights groups and a UN inquiry describing it as genocide.
Microsoft also faced internal protests, including sit-ins, which led to the firing of employees. The company cited policy violations and safety concerns during workplace demonstrations.
