A contingent of current and former Microsoft staff, alongside community allies, staged a dramatic occupation of the company's Redmond headquarters. Organized by the activist network No Azure for Apartheid—aligned with the broader No Tech for Apartheid movement—the group transformed East Campus Plaza into what they dubbed “The Martyred Palestinian Children’s Plaza,” setting up a symbolic encampment and open negotiation space for Microsoft leadership.
A Growing Campaign of Workplace Dissent
This protest is the culmination of mounting internal unrest over Microsoft’s alleged role in Israeli military operations. Activists point to a September investigation by The Guardian, +972 Magazine, and Local Call, which revealed that Israel’s Unit 8200 used Azure to store mass-surveillance data—including, purportedly, up to "a million calls an hour" from Palestinians—a claim that Microsoft is currently investigating.
Protesters erected evocative displays—shrouds, a “Stop Starving Gaza” plate—and invited senior Microsoft officials to “come to the table” to address their demand: the immediate termination of all contracts with the Israeli military.
Escalating Actions and Internal Tensions
This demonstration follows earlier disruptions within Microsoft:
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In April, two employees interrupted speeches by AI chief Mustafa Suleyman and CEO Satya Nadella at the company’s 50th-anniversary event to demand a halt to AI products being used by Israel. Both were subsequently fired.
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In May, employee Joe Lopez interrupted Satya Nadella's keynote at Build 2025 in Seattle, vocally calling for "Free Palestine" and highlighting internal discord.
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Reports also surfaced of Microsoft blocking internal emails that included words like “Palestine,” “Gaza,” and “genocide,” sparking concerns about censorship.
Microsoft's Response & Independent Review
Following the Guardian-led exposé, Microsoft launched an urgent third-party investigation—conducted by the law firm Covington & Burling—to assess whether its Azure services were misused in violation of human rights commitments.The company has stated that it found no evidence to date that its technologies were employed to target or harm civilians.
What Protesters Are Calling For
The protestors circulated a manifesto titled “We will not be cogs in the Israeli genocidal machine: A call for a Worker Intifada.” It urges Microsoft to:
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Divest from Israeli military ties
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Support reparations for Palestinians
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End discrimination against pro-Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim employees
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Protect workers advocating for Palestine from workplace retaliation
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Encourage staff to “speak up, walk out, protest, [and] strike”
Why It Matters – And What’s Next
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Ethical Accountability in Tech: The events spotlight the responsibilities that companies like Microsoft hold in ensuring their technologies aren’t complicit in military or surveillance actions with deep human rights implications.
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Employee Activism as Catalyst: The protests reflect growing tech worker engagement in ethical issues, signaling that internal dissent can drive corporate introspection—even if Microsoft to date maintains it has not found evidence of misuse.
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Public Pressure & Legal Scrutiny: The outcomes of ongoing investigations will be crucial. Microsoft has promised to publish its findings once the review concludes.
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