Microsoft cuts off cloud services to Israeli military unit after report of storing Palestinians’ phone calls
Microsoft halted Azure and AI services for Israeli Unit 8200 after finding evidence of mass surveillance of Palestinians violating its terms, amid rising global concerns over tech ethics.
- On Thursday, Microsoft disabled a set of cloud and AI services used by a unit within the Israel Ministry of Defense after an internal review found supporting evidence.
- Media investigations alleging mass surveillance prompted Microsoft to commission outside counsel after the Guardian, +972 Magazine, Local Call, and AP reported Israel used Azure to store Palestinian calls recently.
- The Israeli military unit reportedly used Azure and AI to store and analyze as much as 8,000 terabytes of Palestinian call data in Microsoft datacenters in the Netherlands and Ireland, aiding military planning.
- Microsoft limited the action to a small subset of services for one unit, and an Israeli security official said the move produced 'no damage to the operational capabilities' of the IDF.
- International bodies and experts have issued findings and calls that frame the Microsoft decision within wider human-rights concerns, as reports said Unit 8200 planned to transfer data to Amazon Web Services and Amnesty International urged suspensions tied to Israel's military activities.
272 Articles
272 Articles
Microsoft Terminates Elite Israeli Intelligence Unit’s Access to AI and Storage Services
The tech giant’s move, which suspends the use of parts of its proprietary software by Israel’s Unit 8200, came after months of escalation by organizers and activists within the company.
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‘Mass surveillance of civilians’: Microsoft cuts off Israeli Defense Ministry after spying investigation
Microsoft has officially “ceased and disabled” certain services to a unit within the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD) after an internal review found evidence supporting claims of mass surveillance of Palestinian civilians. This is a massive piece of news, especially since the company’s own Vice Chair and President, Brad Smith, shared a direct communication about the decision with employees. The initial allegations surfaced in an article by The …
Microsoft is shutting down certain services to Israel after data surveillance of Palestinians in large numbers was found in the company's data centers.
Microsoft terminates services for Israeli military after investigation into mass surveillance of Palestinians - Egypt Independent
Microsoft has terminated a set of services for the Israeli military after an investigation suggested Israel was using the company’s cloud computing technology for mass surveillance of Palestinians.
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