Two Microsoft employees were terminated after interrupting the company’s 50th anniversary celebration to protest AI technology contracts with the Israeli military, highlighting rising internal dissent in Big Tech over military applications.
At a Glance
Microsoft fired two employees after they protested the company’s AI work tied to the Israeli military during its anniversary event
- The protest was organized by a group called “No Azure for Apartheid”
- Microsoft cited disruption of business operations as the reason for termination
- The controversy follows similar protests and firings at Google over military contracts
- The case reflects increasing tech industry tension over the ethics of AI in warfare
Protest Disrupts Microsoft’s 50th Anniversary
A celebratory moment for Microsoft turned contentious when two employees interrupted the company’s 50th anniversary event to protest its AI work with the Israeli military. Software engineer Ibtihal Aboussad and another employee, Vaniya Agrawal, staged the protest during a keynote speech by Mustafa Suleyman, the CEO of Microsoft AI.
As ABC News reported, Aboussad stood and addressed the audience directly, accusing the company of contributing to violence in Gaza through its cloud services and artificial intelligence capabilities.
The protesters are affiliated with “No Azure for Apartheid,” an activist group calling on Microsoft to end its business ties with Israel’s military forces. Both individuals were dismissed shortly after the protest—Aboussad via video call and Agrawal via email.
Microsoft’s Response: Protest Allowed, Disruption Not
In response to the backlash, Microsoft defended its decision to terminate the employees, stating that while the company supports employee expression, disruptions during official events are unacceptable.
“We provide many avenues for all voices to be heard,” the company said in a statement. “Importantly, we ask that this be done in a way that does not cause a business disruption.”
Suleyman briefly acknowledged the protest from the stage, telling the employees, “Thank you for your protest, I hear you,” before security removed them from the venue.
Allegations Tie Microsoft AI to Gaza Bombings
The core of the protest revolves around an Associated Press investigation that suggested Microsoft’s AI tools were being used by the Israeli military to select bombing targets in Gaza. During the protest, Aboussad directly called out Microsoft’s ethical claims, stating, “You claim that you care about using AI for good but Microsoft sells AI weapons to the Israeli military. Fifty-thousand people have died and Microsoft powers this genocide in our region.”
The company has not confirmed or denied the specifics of its defense contracts but maintains that its practices meet ethical standards.
Tech Industry Faces Growing Worker Dissent
Microsoft’s incident is part of a larger trend across Silicon Valley, where employees are increasingly challenging their employers’ military and government contracts. Google faced similar unrest over Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion deal with Israel, which also led to employee firings and labor complaints.
Those terminated at Microsoft are reportedly considering legal action, possibly mirroring the complaints filed with the National Labor Relations Board by Google employees.
These protests underscore the friction between a younger, socially conscious workforce and corporations engaged in global defense work. As AI becomes more entwined with military strategy, tensions inside the industry are likely to escalate. Microsoft and others will be forced to navigate these ethical minefields, balancing shareholder demands, employee values, and geopolitical realities.
