Microsoft has blocked an Israeli army unit from accessing some companies after preliminary proof supported a media investigation that the software program was used for surveillance of tens of millions of Palestinian civilian telephone calls.
The unit used Microsoft’s Azure software program to retailer “millions” of recordings of cell phone calls made by Palestinians residing in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Financial institution, in response to a joint investigation by The Guardian and different shops revealed in August.
The investigation prompted an inside evaluate by Microsoft, which discovered particulars of the Israel Ministry of Defence’s (IMOD) consumption of Azure storage capability within the Netherlands and the usage of AI companies supported the reporting, Microsoft president Brad Smith mentioned.
Mr Smith mentioned the choice to “cease and disable” sure IMOD subscriptions, together with the usage of particular cloud storage and AI companies, wouldn’t affect Microsoft’s cyber safety companies to Israel and different Center Japanese international locations.
In August, the army informed The Guardian that Microsoft “is not and has not been working with the (Israeli military) on the storage or processing of data”.
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Protesters marched close to the Microsoft Construct convention in Seattle, Washington, final 12 months. File pic: Reuters
Microsoft has been the goal of protests over its ties to Israel, together with by a tech business worker-led marketing campaign group named No Azure for Apartheid.
The campaigners are amongst pro-Palestinian teams who welcomed Microsoft’s determination to dam the Israeli army from sure companies.
It’s a “point of vindication for those brave tech workers who stood up and protested”, mentioned Imraan Siddiqi, govt director of the Washington state chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations.
The Guardian’s investigation was carried out with Israeli-Palestinian publication +972 Journal and Hebrew-language outlet Native Name.
