Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has condemned employees who displayed anti-Israel messages during company events, as internal unrest over the tech giant's role in Israel's war on Gaza escalates. During a 24 February town hall, five employees stood on a platform with T-shirts reading 'Does Our Code Kill Kids, Satya?' before being escorted out. The company later fired two employees who interrupted an AI executive on 4 April, and two others who disrupted a speech by Microsoft president Brad Smith on 20 March.
Protesters outside the March event projected a sign reading 'Microsoft powers genocide', referencing Israel's extensive use of Microsoft's AI and cloud computing services since 7 October 2023. Former software engineer Hossam Nasr described the situation as 'very close to a tipping point', citing a 24 October vigil for Palestinian casualties and multiple firings of employee activists.
Employee Ibtihal Aboussad, fired after speaking to the Guardian, said recent reporting on Microsoft's ties to Israel was the 'last straw', as she felt unable to ensure her work was not used in Gaza. Microsoft did not respond to a request for comment. The protests mirror those at Google, which in February removed commitments not to use AI for surveillance or weapons.
