Report by United Nations Human Rights Council alleges major technology firms, including Microsoft, earnings stem from incidents related to the Gaza genocide
In a series of developments that have raised ethical concerns, Microsoft's involvement in Israel's military complex has been under scrutiny. A UN report by Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese has implicated Microsoft, alongside tech giants like Google and Amazon, in contributing to Israel's military operations.
The report suggests that these companies provide cloud storage and AI technologies that enhance Israel's data processing, decision-making, and surveillance capabilities. Critics argue that these companies benefit economically from their involvement in Israel's military activities, which are controversial due to allegations of human rights abuses in Gaza.
A group called No Azure for Apartheid, including current and former Microsoft employees, has organised protests against Microsoft's contracts with the Israeli military. They argue that Microsoft's technologies are used in ways that contribute to human rights abuses against Palestinians. The protesters demand that Microsoft terminate its contracts with the Israeli military, stating that this would end their complicity in alleged genocide.
Microsoft has stated that internal and external reviews found no evidence that its Azure and AI technologies have been used to target or harm people in Gaza. However, this response has not quelled the protests. The protesters argue that Microsoft's technologies are embedded in various sectors of Israel, including the prison service, police, universities, and schools, and could potentially be used in ways that infringe upon human rights.
The IDF is currently under investigation around the world, including by Israel itself, for potential war crimes. The IDF has been accused of indiscriminately targeting innocent Gazan civilians and children.
Microsoft has developed its largest center outside the United States in Israel and has been active in the country since 1991. The company has also acquired several Israeli cybersecurity and surveillance start-ups. In May, Microsoft admitted to supplying technologies to the Israeli Ministry of Defence.
The UN Human Rights Council commissioned a report by Francesca Albanese that can be read here. The report asserts that Microsoft and other big tech firms continue to expand their cloud infrastructure into the Israeli military complex, profiting billions as thousands of innocent Gazan civilians suffer and are displaced.
This issue has sparked significant protests among Microsoft employees, with the company's involvement in Israel's military complex being highlighted in recent UN reports. The company faces pressure to reconsider its role in supporting Israel's military activities and to make a "basic moral choice" to end these contracts. It remains to be seen how Microsoft will respond to these demands.
- Microsoft's Arizona-based cloud computing platform, Azure, has been a subject of debate amongst its employees, who form a group called No Azure for Apartheid.
- This group insists on Microsoft terminating its contracts with the Israeli military, alleging that the company's technologies are used in ways that infringe upon human rights.
- The controversial use of Microsoft's technologies within Israel extends to various sectors, including the prison service, police, universities, and schools.
- The International Defense Force (IDF) of Israel is under investigation for potential war crimes, with accusations of indiscriminately targeting innocent civilians and children in Gaza.
- Microsoft, alongside tech giants like Google and Amazon, has been implicated by the UN report in contributing to Israel's military operations through cloud storage and AI technologies.
- Microsoft has made significant strides in Israel, having developed its largest center outside the United States in the country since 1991 and acquiring several Israeli cybersecurity and surveillance start-ups, further adding to the list of industries under scrutiny.
