A pro-Palestinian protest by Microsoft employees disrupted the company’s 50th anniversary celebration on Friday, drawing attention to the company’s controversial involvement with the Israeli military. The protest occurred during a live-streamed event at Microsoft headquarters, where AI chief Mustafa Suleyman was discussing updates to the company’s AI assistant, Copilot.
Microsoft employee Ibtihal Aboussad interrupted Suleyman’s speech, accusing the company of enabling the Israeli military’s actions in Gaza by providing AI technology for military operations.
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“Mustafa, shame on you,” Aboussad shouted, claiming that Microsoft’s technology was being used to fuel the ongoing conflict and that the company had blood on its hands. Suleyman acknowledged her protest but did not provide a direct rebuttal. Aboussad threw a keffiyeh, a symbol of Palestinian solidarity, on stage before being escorted out.
A second protester, Vaniya Agrawal, disrupted another segment of the event featuring Microsoft leaders Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer, and Satya Nadella. Agrawal voiced similar concerns, denouncing Microsoft’s links to the Israeli military’s use of AI. Earlier this year, an Associated Press investigation revealed that Microsoft’s AI technology was used by the Israeli military to target bombing operations, including one that resulted in civilian casualties in Lebanon.
This protest follows previous demonstrations, including an incident in February where five Microsoft employees were removed from a meeting with CEO Satya Nadella due to protests over the company’s contracts with Israel.
The anniversary event protest, however, was much more visible, being broadcast globally. Microsoft responded by stating its commitment to allowing diverse voices to be heard but urged protests to avoid disrupting business operations. The company did not specify whether any disciplinary actions would be taken against the protesters, though both Aboussad and Agrawal reported losing access to their work accounts following the protest, sparking concerns over potential consequences.
This protest highlights growing tensions within the tech industry over corporate practices tied to global conflicts, as employees increasingly challenge their companies’ involvement in controversial matters.
