Microsoft Fires Staff After Copilot Event Protest | Tech News

Microsoft Terminates Engineers Following Protest

Two software engineers, Ibtihal Aboussad and Vaniya Agrawal, were reportedly dismissed by Microsoft on Monday.

Their termination follows a protest during Microsoft’s Copilot and 50th anniversary event concerning the company’s alleged collaborations with the Israeli military.

Details of the Dismissal

An internal communication, reviewed by CNBC, indicates Microsoft stated Aboussad had alternative avenues for voicing concerns.

These included confidential discussions with her manager or utilizing Global Employee Relations resources.

However, the company asserts she deliberately disrupted the presentation delivered by Microsoft AI CEO, Mustafa Suleyman.

The Disruptions During the Event

During Friday’s event, Aboussad publicly accused Suleyman of having “blood on his hands,” interrupting his keynote speech on new AI products.

Later the same day, Agrawal interrupted a panel discussion.

The panel featured Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, former CEO Steve Ballmer, and company founder Bill Gates.

Agrawal’s interruption consisted of shouting, “shame on all of you… Cut ties with Israel.”

Further Actions and Allegations

Following these incidents, Aboussad reportedly emailed Microsoft employees and executives.

In the email, she alleged the company had suppressed the voices of employees with opposing viewpoints, as reported by CNBC.

The email also contained a link to a petition originating from “No Azure for Apartheid.”

This group comprises Microsoft staff members who have previously gained attention for their demonstrations against the company’s involvement with Israel.

Background on "No Azure for Apartheid"

• The group has consistently voiced opposition to Microsoft’s work in Israel.
• Their petition seeks to end the company’s collaborations.
• They have previously organized protests and campaigns to raise awareness.

Microsoft has not publicly commented on the specific reasons for the terminations beyond the internal communication described by CNBC.

The situation highlights the growing tension surrounding the ethical considerations of AI development and corporate responsibility.