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Arab News
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
18 arrested in second day of staff-led protests at Microsoft HQ
WASHINGTON: Police arrested 18 people on Wednesday during the second day of pro-Palestinian protests led by current and former Microsoft employees at the tech giant's headquarters in Redmond, Washington. The arrests came a day after officers dismantled an encampment set up by the worker-led campaign group 'No Azure for Apartheid,' which is demanding Microsoft end its ties with the Israeli military amid reports that the company's technology has been used to facilitate mass surveillance of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, and assist in selecting bombing targets during the war on Gaza. Redmond police said they arrested 18 demonstators who 'resisted and became aggressive' as officers tried to disperse the protests at Microsoft's campus. 'A few protesters had poured paint over the Microsoft sign and on the ground. Others had blocked a pedestrian bridge and were using stolen tables and chairs from vendors to form a barrier,' Redmond police department said in a post on X. 18 arrested for various charges during a protest at Microsoft Campus Redmond police are at the scene of a demonstration at the Microsoft campus. On Aug 20, around 12:15 p.m., Redmond officers were dispatched to a large gathering of protestors in the Microsoft courtyard.… — RedmondWaPD (@RedmondWaPD) August 20, 2025 In a statement to Arab News, Microsoft accused the returning protesters of 'vandalism and property damage,' a day after 35 demonstrators had cleared the site following police orders that such activities were not permitted on private property. 'They also disrupted, harassed, and took tables and tents from local small businesses at a lunchtime farmer's market for employees. Local police officers made multiple arrests,' a Microsoft spokesperson told Arab News. Demonstrators were arrested on multiple charges, including 'trespassing, malicious mischief, resisting arrest, and obstruction,' as investigations are underway, the police department said, adding that no injuries were reported at the scene. Organizers of the 'No Azure for Apartheid' group told Arab News that those arrested included current and former Microsoft workers as well as Seattle community members. They said protesters returned for the second day in a row 'to escalate and force an end to the genocide powered by Microsoft technology.' 'Instead of listening to the (group's) demands and ending its role in the daily massacre of Palestinians, Microsoft chose to militarize its campus,' the group said in a statement to Arab News. They accused the tech giant of enabling Israel's military campaign and starvation in Gaza, as well as assisting the displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank. The group noted that the demonstrations aimed to 'demand Microsoft stop exploiting our labor to build technology that murders Palestinians.' Microsoft has reiterated its pledge to conduct 'a thorough and independent review of new allegations' raised earlier this month in a Guardian media investigation, which reported that Israel used the tech giant's Azure cloud services to record millions of daily phone calls made by Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. 'Microsoft will continue to do the hard work needed to uphold its human rights standards in the Middle East, while supporting and taking clear steps to address unlawful actions that damage property, disrupt business or that threaten and harm others,' the company's spokesperson told Arab News. On Friday, the tech giant said that it hired law firm Covington & Burling LLP to conduct the review on Israel's commercial agreements with Microsoft and will make the findings public once the review is complete.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
18 arrested at Microsoft employee protest over company's Israel contracts: Read statement from Police
Image credit: Komonews At least 18 people were recently arrested at Microsoft's Redmond campus during the second day of pro-Palestinian protests , a report claims. The group, which included current and former Microsoft employees, was protesting the company's contracts to supply artificial intelligence technology to the Israeli military. According to a report by Komonews, the local police said that officers responded to a large gathering where protesters allegedly poured paint on a Microsoft sign, blocked a pedestrian bridge, and used stolen furniture to create a barrier. The group named 'No Azure For Apartheid' claims the technology is being used to 'surveil, starve and kill Palestinians.' In response, the tech giant said it is looking into the use of its Azure platform in Israel. However, the report doesn't specify how many of the arrested protestors are current Microsoft employees. Police added that these individuals may face charges of trespassing, resisting arrest, obstruction, and malicious mischief. No injuries were reported at the latest protest, which took place a day after the same group demonstrated at Microsoft's campus, but that ended without any arrests. What Microsoft said about the arrests at its campus In its latest statement, a spokesperson for Microsoft said, "Yesterday, approximately 35 protesters gathered and protested on the Microsoft campus. When local police officers informed them that this was not permitted on private property, they left. Today, the group returned and engaged in vandalism and property damage. They also disrupted, harassed, and took tables and tents from local small businesses at a lunchtime farmer's market for employees." Microsoft also added: 'As we have made clear, Microsoft is committed to its human rights standards and contractual terms of service, including in the Middle East. The company announced last week that it is pursuing a thorough and independent review of new allegations first reported earlier this month about the purported use of its Azure platform in Israel." 'Microsoft will continue to do the hard work needed to uphold its human rights standards in the Middle East, while supporting and taking clear steps to address unlawful actions that damage property, disrupt business, or that threaten and harm others,' the company said last week. Tensions between Microsoft and some current and former employees have been rising after recent firings of staff who protested the company's contracts. Reports have also linked Microsoft and OpenAI's AI models to Israeli military targeting in Gaza and Lebanon, including a deadly 2023 airstrike. Microsoft has now hired a law firm to investigate claims that the Israeli military used its Azure platform for storing surveillance data on Palestinians. 'Microsoft's standard terms of service prohibit this type of usage," the company noted in a statement shared last week, claiming that the report raises 'precise allegations that merit a full and urgent review.' Previously, the Associated Press reported that Israel's military uses Microsoft Azure for processing surveillance data tied to its AI targeting systems. Microsoft admitted its technology had military applications but said a prior review found no evidence it was used to harm people in Gaza—though details of that review were not disclosed. The company has now hired Covington & Burling to conduct a new investigation and has promised to share its findings once complete. WhatsApp Makes Group Calls Smarter AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
The Verge
8 hours ago
- Business
- The Verge
Microsoft employee arrested at headquarters protest of Israel contracts
A Microsoft employee has been arrested as part of protests at the company's headquarters in Redmond, Washington this week. On Tuesday, a group of current and former Microsoft employees, as well as community members, took over a plaza at Microsoft's headquarters to protest against the company's contracts with Israel. The No Azure for Apartheid protest group says at least one Microsoft employee has now been arrested as part of 18 arrests in a second day of protests. Protestors at Microsoft's headquarters set up a 'Liberated Zone' encampment for a second day on Wednesday, and poured paint over a Microsoft sign on campus. Komo News reports that Redmond Police allege that some protesters also 'blocked a pedestrian bridge, and tried to create a barrier using stolen tables and chairs.' While the group of protesters were moved on peacefully on the first day of protests on Tuesday, Redmond Police arrested 18 people at Wednesday's protests and claim some protestors 'became aggressive.' At least one of the 18 arrested is a current Microsoft employee, Abdo Mohamed, a No Azure for Apartheid organizer and former tech worker fired by Microsoft, confirmed to The Verge. 'Those arrested include current and former Microsoft workers as well as Seattle community members,' says the No Azure for Apartheid group in a press release. The group has been organizing a series of protests against Microsoft's cloud contracts with the Israeli government in recent months. A former Microsoft employee disrupted the company's 50th anniversary event and called Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman a 'war profiteer.' Microsoft's three CEOs were also interrupted by another former Microsoft employee during the same event. The group also disrupted Microsoft's Build conference earlier this year multiple times, and Microsoft even blocked emails that contain 'Palestine' after these employee protests. The latest protests come just days after The Guardian, in partnership with +972 Magazine and Local Call, published an investigation which revealed that the Israeli government is relying on Microsoft's cloud services to store recordings and data of up to 'a million calls an hour' made by Palestinians. 'The company announced last week that it is pursuing a thorough and independent review of new allegations first reported earlier this month about the purported use of its Azure platform in Israel,' says an unnamed Microsoft spokesperson in a statement to Komo News. 'Microsoft will continue to do the hard work needed to uphold its human rights standards in the Middle East, while supporting and taking clear steps to address unlawful actions that damage property, disrupt business or that threaten and harm others.' Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All by Tom Warren Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Microsoft Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All News Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Tech
Geek Wire
16 hours ago
- Business
- Geek Wire
18 arrested at Microsoft headquarters in latest protest over Israel tech contracts
Police take protesters into custody on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025, following a demonstration at the Microsoft campus in Redmond, Wash. (GeekWire Photo / Maddie Stoll) REDMOND, Wash. — Eighteen people were arrested on the Microsoft campus Wednesday afternoon, including some current and former employees, as protesters continued to escalate their campaign against the company over its role in providing technology to Israel. It was the second straight day of protests by members of the group No Azure for Apartheid. The group is calling on Microsoft to cut all ties to the Israeli military and government, alleging that the company's technology is being used in the surveillance, starvation and killing of Palestinians in Gaza. Redmond police said they were dispatched around 12:15 p.m. to the plaza of Microsoft's East Campus. Protesters poured red paint on the large Microsoft sign, symbolizing blood. They also used tables and chairs to form a barrier on a nearby pedestrian bridge, according to police. In contrast with a protest Tuesday, when the group dismantled their encampment after police warned them of imminent arrest, members of the group refused to leave, resisted and 'became aggressive,' police said in a statement. There was a large law enforcement presence, as Redmond police were joined by Washington State Patrol, Bellevue Police, and Kirkland Police. The arrests were for charges including trespassing, malicious mischief, resisting arrest and obstruction. Police said no injuries were reported. One of those arrested was Hossam Nasr, a leader of the group who was fired from Microsoft last year after an earlier protest on the Redmond campus, for what the company described as violations of its policies designed to prevent workplace disruption. Red paint covers the Microsoft sign at the company's headquarters. Protesters from the group No Azure for Apartheid also placed shrouds in the plaza intending to symbolize martyrs of Gaza. (GeekWire Photo / Todd Bishop) Abdo Mohamed, an organizer of the group who was also fired by Microsoft last year, said after the protest Wednesday that the 'escalations will continue' as long as Microsoft is 'embedded in the Israeli economy of genocide and apartheid' against Palestinians in Gaza. He said Microsoft seemed to be showing more outrage over red paint and relocated chairs than over its technology's alleged role in the killing and starvation of Palestinians in Gaza. In a statement, Microsoft said the group 'engaged in vandalism and property damage' after returning to campus for a second day. The company accused protesters of disrupting and harassing local small businesses at a lunchtime farmer's market for employees, and taking their tables and tents. 'Microsoft will continue to do the hard work needed to uphold its human rights standards in the Middle East, while supporting and taking clear steps to address unlawful actions that damage property, disrupt business or that threaten and harm others,' the company said. The company reiterated its commitment to its human rights standards and noted it is 'pursuing a thorough and independent review of new allegations' regarding the use of its Azure platform in the surveillance of Palestinians in Gaza. Microsoft announced Aug. 15 that it had hired the law firm Covington & Burling LLP to lead the review after reports in The Guardian and other outlets alleged Israeli forces used Microsoft servers as part of the mass surveillance of Palestinians. The company said the report contained 'additional and precise allegations that merit a full and urgent review,' and noted that it would publicly release the findings. In past statements, Microsoft has said it complies with its human rights commitments, and that its contracts with Israel's Ministry of Defense are standard commercial agreements, governed by its terms of service and AI Code of Conduct. Earlier this year, Microsoft said internal and external reviews found no violations. However, the company at the time also acknowledged its limited visibility into how its technology is deployed on private or on-premises systems.
Geek Wire
2 days ago
- Business
- Geek Wire
Protesters set up temporary encampment at Microsoft to pressure company on Israel contracts
Redmond police explain to members of No Azure for Apartheid that they will be subject to arrest for trespassing if they don't leave the Microsoft campus Tuesday afternoon. (GeekWire Photo / Todd Bishop) Protesters took over part of Microsoft's Redmond, Wash., campus for more than an hour Tuesday — escalating their efforts to pressure the company to stop providing technology to the Israeli government and military. Members of the No Azure for Apartheid group, which includes current and former Microsoft employees, allege that the company's technology is being used in the surveillance, starvation and killing of Palestinians in Gaza. Microsoft has said it complies with its human rights commitments, and that its contracts with Israel's Ministry of Defense are standard commercial agreements, governed by its terms of service and AI Code of Conduct. The protesters created what they called a 'Liberated Zone' in the plaza of the company's East Campus, in front of the Microsoft sign, pitching tents and setting up a 'negotiations table' with a banner that read, 'Microsoft Execs, Come to the Table.' The space was filled with shrouds symbolizing the dead in Gaza, and a large plate reading, 'Stop Starving Gaza.' 'Regardless of your beliefs, regardless of whether or not your work today actually supports Israel, know that Microsoft's money does include blood money,' said one of the speakers at the protest, Julius Shan, a software engineer who said he has worked at Microsoft for nearly five years. A smattering of Microsoft employees looked on from the periphery as security guards and police arrived. One employee who was watching nearby said he empathized with the message but not the approach. 'This isn't going to change anything,' said the employee, who did not give his name. 'It's just going to annoy the people that are here.' The 'Liberated Zone' was in place for more than an hour on Microsoft's Redmond campus. Initially, the protesters appeared to be preparing for an extended encampment, reminiscent of student-led protests at universities during the 2023-24 academic year. In a press release shortly after the action began, the group said it was renaming the plaza 'The Martyred Palestinian Children's Plaza,' and offered interviews at the 'Anas Al-Sharif Media Tent,' named after a Palestinian journalist killed in Gaza last week. However, the group took down the encampment and moved to a nearby public sidewalk after City of Redmond Police told them they were trespassing on private property and would be subject to arrest. Microsoft has not issued a public statement about the latest protest. The company has said in past statements that it does not permit its technology to be used for unlawful surveillance or human rights abuses. Earlier this year, Microsoft said internal and external reviews found no violations. However, the company acknowledged its limited visibility into how its technology is deployed on private or on-premises systems Microsoft announced on Aug.15 that it is launching a formal review into allegations that its Azure cloud services were used by the Israeli military for mass surveillance of Palestinians. The company said it hired the law firm Covington & Burling LLP to lead the review, and pledged to make the findings of the review public once the process is complete. That move came after reports earlier this month in The Guardian, +972 Magazine, and Local Call cited sources alleging that the Israeli Defense Forces stored data from widespread phone monitoring of civilians in Gaza and the West Bank on Microsoft servers. Protesters walk past a security robot as they leave the Microsoft campus. (GeekWire Photo / Todd Bishop) At the time of the initial report by the Guardian, the company explained that its work with an Israeli intelligence unit focused on cybersecurity and that it was not aware of any civilian surveillance. The encampment Tuesday was part of a broader escalation by the group, which has spent much of the past year staging protests inside and outside company events, including Microsoft's 50th anniversary event in Redmond earlier this year, where protesters interrupted executives inside the event. Earlier this month, the group staged a loud protest outside the home of Teresa Hutson, corporate vice president of Microsoft's Trusted Technology Group — pouring red paint on the sidewalk symbolizing blood, and accusing her of being complicit in killing children in Gaza, according to video clips from the protest. The group's latest action comes amid reports of a growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and increasing concerns about famine. Hamas has agreed to a proposed 60-day cease-fire with phased hostage releases. Israeli officials today demanded the release of all hostages and said they were not interested in partial deals, according to the BBC.
