Microsoft Faces Employee Protests Over Alleged Israel Army Ties; Hires Law Firm to Probe Azure Use in Gaza

The echo of the conflict in Gaza was seen outside the headquarters of America's major tech company Microsoft, where this week employees protested vigorously. The employees demanded that the company immediately end its technical relationship with the Israeli army. According to media reports, the reason for the demonstration was a report in the British newspaper 'The Guardian' claiming that the Israeli army is using Microsoft's Azure cloud platform to monitor the phone calls of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

Microsoft stated on Friday that it has hired a law firm called Covington & Burling to investigate the matter. The company also said that its terms of service do not permit such use and that it is a serious issue requiring immediate and thorough investigation.

However, Microsoft employees say that an investigation alone is not enough. At the same time, a group has been continuously protesting and demanding that the company stop providing technology to Israel, which is supporting the war in Gaza.

Earlier in February, a news agency report indicated that Microsoft and the Israeli Defense Ministry have a close relationship, and the use of AI technology by the Israeli army has increased 200 times since the Hamas attack in October 2023.

The report also claimed that the Israeli army uses Microsoft Azure for espionage, translation, and data processing, which is then linked to Israel's AI-based targeting system.

Microsoft had previously said that their investigation found no evidence that Azure or AI was used to harm people in Gaza, but they did not specify who conducted this investigation, nor was the report made public.

Recently, the company also fired three employees for protesting this issue, including one who interrupted CEO Satya Nadella's speech. This has raised questions about whether Microsoft will fulfill its moral responsibilities or continue its controversial partnerships for profit.