Five Microsoft employees were removed from a company conference on February 24 after protesting the company’s services to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
During the meeting, as Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella spoke, the protesters stood, each wearing a shirt displaying a single word and letter that collectively spelled out the question, “Does our code kill kids, Satya?” The protest did not disrupt the meeting, and Nadella did not respond to the protesters. According to photos and videos taken by other conference attendees, the five individuals were escorted from the room. The protest was triggered by Microsoft’s provision of sophisticated AI models and Azure cloud computing platforms to the IDF. Those involved in the demonstration are connected to the No Tech for Apartheid and No Azure for Apartheid campaigns. No Tech For Apartheid is a coalition of workers from Amazon, Google, and Microsoft who are working to end contracts with the IDF and the Israeli government. No Azure for Apartheid is composed of approximately 1,000 Microsoft employees protesting for Microsoft executives to terminate contracts between the IDF and the Israeli government.
No Azure for Apartheid demands that Microsoft disclose all its services provided to the IDF and the Israeli government, publicly call for a ceasefire, and protect any employees who are supporting pro-Palestinian activism, including internal fundraising initiatives on company platforms.
On their website, the organization states their demand that Microsoft “live up to its own purported ethical values—by ending its direct and indirect complicity in Israeli apartheid and genocide.”
The recent protest follows the October termination of two employees who organized an unauthorized vigil during their lunch break. Hossam Nasr, one of the fired employees and a Harvard University graduate raised in Egypt, reported that the purpose of the vigil was “to honor the victims of the Palestinian genocide in Gaza and to call attention to Microsoft’s complicity in the genocide”.
Abdo Mohamed, the other employee fired in October, also from Egypt, stated, “The demands are clear. Satya Nadella and Microsoft executives need to answer to their workers by dropping contracts with the Israeli military.” Mohamed is also a member of No Azure for Apartheid.
In a statement, Microsoft stated that Nasr and Mohamed were terminated in line with internal policy.
Microsoft stated to AP news, following the February protest, “We provide many avenues for all voices to be heard. Importantly, we ask that this be done in a way that does not cause a business disruption. If that happens, we ask participants to relocate. We are committed to ensuring our business practices uphold the highest standards.”
