09-04-2025
Moroccan engineer Ibtihal Abousaad urges Microsoft boycott in a new video
Ibtihal Abousaad, a Moroccan former Microsoft employee who disrupted the company's 50th anniversary celebration to accuse it of enabling Israel's war on Gaza, called on people Wednesday to boycott Microsoft products.
In a video shared on social media, Abousaad—who was fired on Monday following her widely circulated protest—said she wants people to stop using Microsoft services and products. «Boycott all Microsoft products, whether it's Xbox, Copilot, or Candy Crush», she said.
«The goal is to send a message to this company: we will not financially support you, and we will not use your products until you adopt humane principles», she added.
The software engineer also urged others to take a stand. «If anyone watching this video finds themselves in a similar position—working for a company that also violates humane principles—I ask you to raise your voice», she said.
A Harvard graduate and former employee of Microsoft AI, Abousaad made headlines last Friday when she interrupted a keynote by Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman, who was presenting the company's long-term vision for its AI assistant, Copilot.
«You are a war profiteer. Stop using AI for genocide», Abousaad shouted at the event in Redmond, Washington, which was attended by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and former CEO Steve Ballmer.
Footage of the protest quickly went viral online, with many praising her for what they described as a «brave» act. Her actions even drew praise from Hamas.
