Microsoft investigates Israeli military's use of Azure cloud storage
6 hours ago
- #cloud computing
- #milit ary
- #microsoft
- #Israel
- #surveillance
- Microsoft is investigating how Israel's military surveillance agency, Unit 8200 is using its Azure cloud storage platform.
- The agency has used Azure to store a vast collection of intercepted Palestinian mobile phone calls.
- Senior executives are assessing what data Unit 8200 holds in Azure after a Guardian investigation revealed these practices.
- has sparked concerns among Microsoft's leadership about whether some Israel-based employees have concealed key details.
- Microsoft previously conducted a review and found no evidence Azure was used to target or harm people in Gaza, but is now re-examining.
- Leaked documents show Microsoft employees managing projects with Unit 8200 have served in or are reservists of the elite eavesdropping unit.
- has not yet launched the kind of formal review it conducted earlier this year into its work with the Israeli military.
- A worker-led group, No Azure for Apartheid, has demanded Microsoft cut off all ties to the Israeli military publicly.
- An organizer with No Azure for Apartheid, who was fired by Microsoft last year, said executives claim they are unaware of the partnership.