Microsoft employees protest at 50th anniversary party over Israel contract
a year ago
- #Protest
- #Microsoft
- #AI
- Microsoft employees protested at the company's 50th anniversary party over its contract with the Israeli military.
- The protest interrupted a speech by Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman, with employees shouting about Microsoft's involvement in supplying AI technology to the Israeli military.
- One protester, Ibtihal Aboussad, accused Microsoft of powering genocide and threw a keffiyeh scarf on stage before being escorted out.
- A second protester, Vaniya Agrawal, disrupted another part of the event featuring Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer, and Satya Nadella.
- An AP investigation revealed Microsoft and OpenAI's AI models were used by the Israeli military to select bombing targets in Gaza and Lebanon.
- Five Microsoft employees were previously ejected from a meeting with Nadella in February for protesting the contracts.
- Microsoft stated it provides avenues for voices to be heard but expects protests not to disrupt business.
- Aboussad and Agrawal lost access to their work accounts after the protest, possibly indicating termination.