On the eve of Gamescom, Microsoft workers occupy the Xbox company's campus in protest at dealings with the Israeli military
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Summary
Microsoft employees occupied one of the company’s US campuses this week to protest against its alleged use of Azure and AI technologies by the Israeli government in its ongoing conflict with Palestine.
Specifically, the employees are protesting the use of Microsoft technology to gather surveillance data and target airstrikes during the invasion of Gaza, which has so far claimed the lives of tens of thousands of civilians.
The protestors announced one area a ‘Free Zone’ and occupied it with placards, and published a call to action online, before being dispersed by police.
Microsoft has pledged to commission an external investigation into the company’s relationship with Israel’s armed forces following allegations of collaboration with Unit 8200, an intelligence division alleged to have gathered data from Palestinians’ phones and stored it on Microsoft servers overseas.
The company has insisted that its internal reporting has found “no evidence to date that Microsoft’s Azure and AI technologies have been used to target or harm people in the conflict”.
Two employees were fired in 2024 for organising a vigil for the murdered Palestinians and are part of a group calling on Microsoft to divest from Israel.
