Microsoft: it's time to come clean about your ties to the Israeli military - Access Now
Microsoft: it's time to come clean about your ties to the Israeli military
Through a new joint letter, Access Now, Amnesty International, 7amleh, Fight for the Future, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) are calling on Microsoft to publish the findings of its review into the Israeli military’s use of the company’s Azure cloud and AI services, and to take immediate action to prevent its technologies from contributing to violations of international law against Palestinians.
The organizations demand that Microsoft provide full transparency and accountability, especially in light of recent media reports that the company has transferred the management of its Israeli branch to Microsoft France amid scrutiny over its non-transparent dealings with the Israeli Ministry of Defence.
Multiple media investigations by The Guardian, +972 Magazine and Local Call, and The Associated Press revealed that Microsoft cloud and AI services were reportedly used by Israeli military and intelligence units to store and process vast amounts of surveillance data, including intercepted Palestinian communications. According to these reports, this data was then used in lethal military operations in Gaza, including identifying and killing Palestinians. Along with partners, Access Now has warned that continuing to provide such technologies exposes the company and individuals within it to civil and criminal liability for facilitating, assisting, or otherwise being complicit in Israel’s commission of atrocity crimes and serious human rights abuses against the Palestinians across the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).
Despite previously announcing restrictions related to Unit 8200 — Israel’s military intelligence unit — Microsoft has not disclosed which services were suspended, which remain active, or what safeguards have been implemented to prevent further harm.
The organizations are urging Microsoft to publish the review in full, to conduct meaningful human rights due diligence across all contracts with Israeli military and government entities, and to suspend all services and contracts where there is evidence that such business activities are contributing to grave human rights abuses and crimes under international law.