Microsoft Cuts Cloud Services to Israeli Military Unit - Surveillance Concerns

Microsoft Restricts Access for Israel's Ministry of Defense

Following an internal inquiry, Microsoft has terminated certain technological access for the Israel Ministry of Defense. The investigation revealed potential misuse of Microsoft technologies for the storage of surveillance data.

Surveillance Data Concerns

Specifically, the concern centers around data collected from phone calls made by Palestinians. Microsoft discovered indications that its technology was being utilized to store this sensitive information.

Action Taken by Microsoft

The tech corporation announced on Thursday its decision to “cease and disable” specific subscriptions held by the Israeli military. This includes access to Azure cloud storage and particular AI services.

Commitment to Civilian Privacy

Brad Smith, Microsoft’s vice chair and president, emphasized the company’s stance in a blog post. He stated, “We do not provide technology to facilitate mass surveillance of civilians.”

Smith further clarified that this principle is universally applied across all countries and has been a cornerstone of Microsoft’s policy for over two decades.

Initial Notification to Israel

According to reports from The Guardian, Microsoft communicated its decision to Israel last week.

Investigation Triggered by Reporting

This action stems from an ongoing review initiated in August. The review was prompted by a Guardian report detailing allegations that Unit 8200, an elite Israeli military intelligence unit, was leveraging Azure cloud storage.

The reported use involved storing data obtained through surveillance activities targeting Palestinians in both Gaza and the West Bank.

Acknowledgement of The Guardian’s Role

Smith acknowledged the importance of The Guardian’s initial reporting in his blog post. He noted that without this reporting, the company would not have been alerted to the potential issue.

This was due to customer privacy protocols, which prevent Microsoft from directly accessing a customer’s stored content.

Emphasis on Customer Trust

“As employees, we all have a shared interest in privacy protection, given the business value it creates by ensuring our customers can rely on our services with rock solid trust,” Smith explained.

Ongoing Review

Microsoft stated that the review process is still in progress but declined to provide further details regarding the scope of the remaining investigation to TechCrunch.

Internal and External Pressure

Over the past year, Microsoft has faced increasing scrutiny from both its employees and external observers regarding its involvement with Israel.

Protests concerning Microsoft’s relationship with Israel occurred during the company’s 50th-anniversary celebration in April.

Employee Activism and Consequences

In August, employees organized a sit-in protest at Smith’s office, resulting in a temporary lockdown.

The company has terminated the employment of several individuals in recent months due to their activism related to Microsoft’s contracts with Israel.