Microsoft has cut off the Israel Ministry of Defense’s access to some of its technology and services after an internal probe suggested the military had used Azure cloud storage and AI services to house surveillance data on phone calls made by Palestinians.
“We do not provide technology to facilitate mass surveillance of civilians,” Microsoft vice chair and president Brad Smith wrote in a blog post on Thursday, announcing the decision to “cease and disable” certain subscriptions.
The move follows a Guardian investigation alleging that Unit 8200, an elite Israeli military intelligence unit, had used Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure to store data obtained through surveillance in Gaza and the West Bank. Smith credited the paper’s reporting for sparking Microsoft’s own review, noting that customer privacy laws prevent the company from directly accessing client content.
Microsoft has faced internal and external criticism over its relationship with Israel. Employee protests broke out at its 50th anniversary celebration in April, and a sit-in at Smith’s office in August forced a lockdown. The company has also fired staff over activism tied to contracts with Israel.
The review is ongoing, but Microsoft stressed its stance on privacy safeguards, arguing they are critical for customer trust.
