Protests Intensify at Microsoft HQ: 18 Arrested Over Israeli Military Ties
REDMOND, Wash. — Eighteen individuals were arrested Wednesday at Microsoft’s headquarters as worker-led protests intensified, demanding the tech giant sever its extensive business ties with the Israeli military. The arrests occurred during the second consecutive day of demonstrations, prompting Microsoft to announce an “urgent” internal review into allegations regarding the Israeli military’s use of its technology during the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
“No Azure for Apartheid” Group Leads Dissent
For months, the employee-led group “No Azure for Apartheid” has been vocal in its opposition to Microsoft’s contracts with the Israeli Ministry of Defense. Their protests underscore a growing internal dissent over the ethical implications of the company’s technology being used in warfare.
Escalation and Arrests on Wednesday
The demonstrations, held at the sprawling Microsoft campus in Redmond, Washington, escalated significantly on Wednesday. Unlike Tuesday’s protest, where participants dispersed after being asked, those on Wednesday “resisted and became aggressive” when informed they were trespassing, according to the Redmond Police Department. Protesters also splattered red paint, resembling blood, across a prominent sign bearing the Microsoft logo. Police spokesperson Jill Green confirmed, “We said, ‘Please leave or you will be arrested,’ and they chose not to leave so they were detained.”
Microsoft Initiates Urgent Internal Review
Microsoft responded to the escalating situation and recent reports by announcing late last week that it had engaged the law firm Covington & Burling to investigate claims made by the British newspaper The Guardian. The newspaper alleged that the Israeli Defense Forces utilized Microsoft’s Azure cloud computing platform to store phone call data obtained through the mass surveillance of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. Microsoft stated that its “standard terms of service prohibit this type of usage” and promised to share the law firm’s findings upon completion of their review.
Previous Scrutiny and AP Investigation
This is not the first time Microsoft’s ties with the Israeli military have come under scrutiny. In February, an Associated Press investigation revealed previously unreported details about the close partnership, noting a nearly 200-fold increase in the Israeli military’s use of commercial AI products after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. The report detailed how the Israeli military reportedly employs Azure to transcribe, translate, and process intelligence gathered from mass surveillance, which can then be cross-referenced with Israel’s in-house AI-enabled targeting systems.
Company’s Response and Disciplinary Actions
Following the AP’s report, Microsoft acknowledged military applications but asserted that a review it commissioned found no evidence of its Azure platform or AI technologies being used to target or harm people in Gaza. However, the company did not disclose a copy of this review or specify who conducted it. Microsoft has also taken disciplinary action against protesting employees, firing one in May for interrupting a speech by CEO Satya Nadella and two others in April during the company’s 50th-anniversary celebration.
Charges and “Worker Intifada” Call
The 18 individuals taken into custody on Wednesday face various charges, including trespassing, malicious mischief, resisting arrest, and obstruction. It remains unclear how many of them are Microsoft employees. The “No Azure for Apartheid” group had earlier posted an online call for a “worker intifada,” evoking the Palestinian uprisings against Israeli military occupation, signaling a deepening commitment to their cause.
