
Microsoft Lays Out Data Protection Plans for European Cloud Customers
European companies and governments have been increasingly worrying about their data being moved outside the continent into the hands of other countries such as the US, pushing the American companies such as Microsoft to announce safeguards.
Microsoft in April laid out plans to protect user data as it expands its cloud and AI infrastructure in Europe, including respecting European laws seeking to rein in the power of large technology companies.
On Monday, the company said all remote access by Microsoft engineers to the systems that store and process European data would be approved and monitored by European resident personnel in real-time.
Microsoft said its sovereign private cloud is in preview mode currently and will be generally available later this year.
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Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
Acclaimed British musician Paul Weller sues accountants that cut ties over his pro-Palestine views
LONDON: British musician Paul Weller is suing his former accounting firm after it reportedly ended their business ties over his pro-Palestinian comments. Harris and Trotter had a professional relationship with Weller spanning more than three decades, The Independent reported on Wednesday. The acclaimed musician and former frontman of The Jam filed a discrimination claim over the accounting firm's decision. It followed public statements by Weller that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. He was told in March that Harris and Trotter would no longer work with him or his companies, his lawyers said in a pre-action letter. A partner at the firm sent a WhatsApp message to Weller saying: 'It's well known what your political views are in relation to Israel, the Palestinians and Gaza, but we as a firm are offended at the assertions that Israel is committing any type of genocide. 'Everyone is entitled to their own views, but you are alleging such anti-Israel views that we as a firm with Jewish roots and many Jewish partners are not prepared to work with someone who holds these views.' In ending its relationship with Weller, the firm illegally discriminated against his protected philosophical beliefs, his lawyers said. Weller has publicly supported moves to recognize Palestine as a state. 'I've always spoken out against injustice, whether it's apartheid, ethnic cleansing or genocide. What's happening to the Palestinian people in Gaza is a humanitarian catastrophe,' he said. 'I believe they have the right to self-determination, dignity and protection under international law, and I believe Israel is committing genocide against them. 'That must be called out. Silencing those who speak this truth is not just censorship — it's complicity.' According to his lawyers, Weller will donate any received financial damages toward humanitarian campaigns in Gaza. 'I'm taking legal action not just for myself, but to help ensure that others are not similarly punished for expressing their beliefs about the rights of the Palestinian people,' he said. The firm Hodge Jones and Allen is representing Weller. One of its lawyers, Cormac McDonough, said the case 'reflects a wider pattern of attempts to silence artists and public figures who speak out in support of Palestinian rights. 'Within the music industry especially, we are seeing increasing efforts to marginalise those who express solidarity with the people of Gaza.'


Arab News
5 hours ago
- Arab News
Police disperse pro-Palestinian protests at Microsoft HQ in Washington
WASHINGTON: Police dismantled a protest encampment set up by current and former Microsoft employees at the tech giant's headquarters in Redmond, Washington, over the company's cloud services being used by the Israeli military for surveillance operations against Palestinians. Members of the worker-led campaign group, No Azure for Apartheid, occupied Microsoft's East Campus in Redmond on Tuesday, demanding the company end its ties with Israel. The group accused Microsoft of complicity in war crimes in Gaza and the West Bank through its support of Israeli military and intelligence operations. 'In establishing the Liberated Zone, we are liberating our workplace and reclaiming our labor by refusing to do any work that could contribute to genocide and other crimes against humanity in Palestine,' said Microsoft worker Julius Shan in a letter to the company on Tuesday. 'We choose to take this step to escalate against Microsoft's active role in powering 22 months of genocide in Palestine,' he added. The protests follow a recent investigation by The Guardian with the Israeli-Palestinian publication +972 Magazine and Hebrew-language outlet Local Call, which revealed that Microsoft's Azure cloud services were being used by Israeli authorities to facilitate mass surveillance of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. The system reportedly enabled the storage of millions of daily mobile phone call recordings made by Palestinians and assisted in identifying bombing targets in Gaza. On Friday, Microsoft said it launched an 'urgent' external inquiry into the allegations as executives denied their knowledge of the nature of Israel's use of Azure technology. In a statement, Microsoft said 'using Azure for the storage of data files of phone calls obtained through broad or mass surveillance of civilians in Gaza and the West Bank' would be prohibited by its terms of service. Responding to the announcement, the 'No Azure for Apartheid' group described the inquiry as 'yet another tactic to delay' meeting its demands. The group demanded that Microsoft ends sales, deals and services to all Israeli entities, call for a ceasefire and an end to the starvation in Gaza, pay reparations to the Palestinians, and end discrimination against pro-Palestinian workers. Hossam Nasr, one of the group's organizers, told Arab News that Tuesday's encampment aimed to be reminiscent of the US student-led protests at prominent universities last year. However, police officers interrupted the protests after two hours, saying the demonstrators trespassed private property and therefore were subject to arrest. The demonstrators left to a nearby public sidewalk as police officers and Microsoft security dismantled the encampment activities. In the company's plaza, demonstrators paid artistic tributes to the Palestinian victims in Gaza and held placards that read 'Join The Worker Intifada – No Labor for Genocide' targeted at Microsoft. They set up tents and a negotiation table with a large banner that read 'Microsoft Execs, Come to the Table.' The space was also filled with shrouds symbolizing the dead in Gaza, and a large plate reading, 'Stop Starving Gaza.' The protests come amid growing pressure on the US tech giant from Microsoft employees and investors over its ties to the Israeli military and the role its technologies have played in the 22-month war on Gaza. Earlier in April during Microsoft's 50th anniversary celebration, an employee interrupted a panel between CEO Satya Nadella, former CEO Steve Ballmer and founder Bill Gates. Another disrupted an address from AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman. Both employees were fired. Nasr, and another organizer, Abdo Mohamed, told Arab News they were terminated for organizing what the tech giant called an 'unauthorized' vigil at Microsoft's Redmond headquarters for Palestinians killed during the war in Gaza. In response to the mounting criticism, Microsoft launched a investigation earlier this year. In May, the company said it had 'found no evidence to date' the Israeli military had failed to comply with its terms of service or used Azure 'to target or harm people' in Gaza. It said it provides Israel's Ministry of Defense with software, professional services, Azure cloud services, and Azure AI services such as language translation, as well as cybersecurity support, but denied these technologies are used to target civilians. However, the company acknowledged its limited visibility into how its technology is deployed on private or on-premises systems. Arab News has contacted Microsoft for comment.


Asharq Al-Awsat
6 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Bankrupt Jewelry Retailer Claire's to Sell Its North America Business
Fashion jewelry retailer Claire's said on Wednesday it would sell its North America business to private equity firm Ames Watson for an undisclosed amount, as the company aims to cut losses while navigating ongoing US bankruptcy proceedings. The retailer operating more than 2,300 stores across 17 countries in North America and Europe, disclosed $690 million in debt in US bankruptcy court filings in Delaware earlier this month, marking its second bankruptcy protection filing since 2018. "The sale of these stores and Claire's IP to Ames Watson will significantly benefit the Company's efforts to create value through its Restructuring Proceedings," the company, which sells necklaces, bracelets and accessories, including headphones and soft toys, said. The sale requires approval from the US and Canadian courts. Ames Watson is a permanent capital holding company generating more than $2 billion in revenue, according to its website. It acquires, transforms, and partners with middle-market companies to build long-term value. Claire's has suffered in recent years from increased competition, high rent costs, and new tariffs on imports from supplier nations such as China, Thailand and Vietnam. The company said liquidation will continue for its other North American stores that are not being sold. "We are glad to reach this definitive agreement to sell a portion of our North America operations to Ames Watson and maximize the value of our company for all our stakeholders," CEO Chris Cramer said. Ames Watson co-founder Lawrence Berger said that the firm was "committed to investing in its (Claire's) future by preserving a significant retail footprint across North America."