Near-total severance from tech giants: Microsoft restricts access to Israeli Defense Ministry services amid Gaza conflict
The American tech giant Microsoft has recently taken a significant step that has surprised many observers worldwide.
Following an internal investigation confirming the use of the company’s cloud services for collecting and analyzing data on the Palestinian population, Microsoft announced the suspension of several of its services for the Israeli Defense Ministry.
This marks the first time in nearly two years of ongoing conflict in Gaza that a major U.S.
technology corporation has officially limited cooperation with the Israeli government, signaling a serious stance on human rights and data privacy issues.
In a blog post, Microsoft President Brad Smith emphasized that the internal review revealed Israeli military utilization of Azure cloud storage and AI tools to monitor and process calls of Palestinians.
He assured that Microsoft does not provide technologies for mass civilian surveillance.
However, experts note that Israel actively employs these tools for monitoring activities, often partnering with companies like Google and Amazon.
Responding to these developments, Israeli military authorities have begun transferring data to other platforms, such as Amazon, which has yet to comment publicly.
Public opinion polls show that nearly half of Americans believe that Israel has gone too far in its military operations in Gaza.
Human rights organizations call for objective investigations and an end to violations of human rights, especially regarding digital surveillance.
Microsoft’s investigation and the situation surrounding monitoring through digital technologies may set a precedent for other corporations and governments involved in conflict zones, experts warn.