Microsoft denies misuse of AI, Azure in Gaza conflict
Washington, May 17 (UNI) Responding to growing concerns among employees and the public, Microsoft Corporation has stated that it found no evidence its Azure cloud or artificial intelligence technologies were used by the Israeli military to target civilians or cause harm in the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
In a statement released after an internal review and an external fact-finding process, the tech giant said it had interviewed dozens of employees and assessed relevant documents, concluding that none of its technologies were used to inflict harm during the hostilities.
"Microsoft works with countries and customers around the world, including the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD), under a standard commercial relationship," the company said, adding that the terms of its services are governed by a strict Acceptable Use Policy and AI Code of Conduct. These guidelines prohibit the use of its cloud and AI services in any manner that inflicts harm or contravenes legal standards.
The company clarified that its services to the IMOD include software, professional support, Azure cloud services, and AI-powered language translation tools. It emphasised that Microsoft has not provided any bespoke surveillance or operational software typically used in military applications.
"We do not have visibility into how customers use our software on their own premises or servers, nor do we have access to IMOD's government cloud operations, which are supported through contracts with providers other than Microsoft,' the company noted.
Microsoft acknowledged that it had extended limited emergency support to the Israeli government in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023 attacks to assist in hostage rescue efforts. "This help was provided with significant oversight, and not all requests were approved," it said.
Underscoring its broader commitment, Microsoft reaffirmed its support for cybersecurity in Israel and humanitarian assistance across both Israel and Gaza. "Our work is informed and governed by our Human Rights Commitments. Based on everything we currently know, we believe Microsoft has abided by these commitments in Israel and Gaza," the company stated.
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