Seven protesters, including two Microsoft employees, were arrested Tuesday after barricading themselves inside a president’s office at the company’s Redmond campus to protest Microsoft’s technology partnerships with Israel.
Redmond police took the group into custody on charges of trespassing, resisting arrest, and obstruction after they refused to leave the executive office. No injuries were reported during the incident, whilst additional demonstrators outside the building relocated to public property and later dispersed without further arrests.
The action was organised by No Azure for Apartheid, a group that has repeatedly targeted Microsoft over its business relationships with Israel. “I think it’s very clear what happened today was a continuation of the escalations against Microsoft workers and former workers, as well as community members rallying together to try forcing an end to Microsoft’s genocide profiteering,” said Abdo Mohamed, a group organiser and former Microsoft employee.
The protest follows mounting scrutiny over Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform and artificial intelligence services being used by Israeli military and surveillance operations. The Guardian reported in August that Azure was storing phone call data obtained through surveillance of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
Last week, police arrested 18 people at Microsoft headquarters as the company promised to review Israeli Defense Forces’ use of its technology. The Associated Press reported in February on Microsoft’s partnership with Israel’s Ministry of Defense, noting that military use of commercial AI products increased nearly 200-fold after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.
According to the AP, Israeli military uses Azure to transcribe, translate, and process intelligence gathered through mass surveillance, which is then cross-referenced with Israel’s targeting systems. Microsoft acknowledged the military applications but said an internal review found no evidence its platforms were used to target or harm Gaza residents.
Following Tuesday’s arrests, Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith confirmed the company is investigating how Israel uses its technology, including allegations about Azure data storage and processing. Smith noted that the “vast majority” of Microsoft’s Israel offerings involve cybersecurity services for the state.
Smith said whilst Microsoft honours freedom of expression and provides employees various channels to voice concerns, Tuesday’s occupation crossed acceptable boundaries. “If people engage in vandalism, violate policies, storm buildings, occupy offices and create a threat to others, that’s different,” he stated.
The company has security footage of the incident and will adapt security measures accordingly, Smith added. The arrests highlight escalating tensions between Microsoft management and employees who oppose the company’s Israel contracts amid the ongoing Gaza conflict.
