Summary
Demonstrators occupied Microsoft's office to protest the company's business connections with Israel's military amid ongoing conflict in Gaza. Seven people, including past and present Microsoft employees, were arrested. Microsoft is reviewing claims that its Azure cloud services were used by Israel's military for surveillance.
Key Facts
- Seven people were arrested for occupying the office of Microsoft's President Brad Smith.
- Protesters are against Microsoft's ties with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and claim Azure was used for military purposes.
- Microsoft is investigating claims that Israel used Azure for mass surveillance in Gaza and the West Bank.
- The Guardian reported that Israel might have used Azure to store data from phone surveillance.
- Microsoft has hired an outside law firm to look into these claims but says its terms of service forbid such use.
- Previous protests at Microsoft's headquarters have resulted in arrests over similar issues.
- Microsoft's President stated the company is committed to upholding human rights principles globally.
- Microsoft denied evidence of its platforms targeting or harming people in Gaza after an internal review.
