Microsoft has disabled certain cloud computing and artificial intelligence services to an Israeli military unit amid concerns over use of its technology for surveillance of Palestinians. The company took the action after an internal review found evidence supporting media reports that a defense unit had used Microsoft Azure to store phone calls from civilians in Gaza and the West Bank.
President Brad Smith stated that Microsoft does not allow its services to facilitate mass surveillance of civilians. The review uncovered that some subscriptions used by the Israel Ministry of Defense were consuming Azure storage in the Netherlands and employing AI services in ways that appeared to violate Microsoft terms. As a result Microsoft ceased and disabled specified subscriptions for that unit.
Microsoft emphasized that this decision does not affect all its work with Israel especially in cybersecurity roles. The company also maintains that it has not accessed customer content in conducting its review and that its policies prohibit misuse of its platforms for surveillance.
The move comes after investigative journalism revealed broad surveillance allegations and triggered protests from company employees and advocacy groups. Many observers see this as a test of how far major technology companies will go to enforce their ethical standards under global scrutiny.
This development raises important questions about privacy accountability and the role of cloud services in military and intelligence operations. Microsoft has committed to sharing more findings from its ongoing review and refining how it enforces its rules regarding misuse of its platforms.