Microsoft opens investigation into the IDF’s use of its services

How have the Israeli forces being using Azure in Gaza?

After seven pro-Palestinian protesters occupied his office and were removed by police on Monday, Microsoft chairperson Brad Smith called a press conference. Previously, Google had fired employees who protested the company’s Israeli government project, but Smith took a different route. After the incident, he announced that Microsoft would investigate allegations about Azure cloud services being used to monitor Palestinians, as reported by "The Guardian" newspaper.

The inquiry focuses on claims the IDF’s 8200 intelligence unit used Microsoft technology to store Palestinian phone data from the West Bank and Gaza.

Concealed information

Protesters, including current and former Microsoft employees, have held several demonstrations, even disrupting a speech by CEO Satya Nadella. Microsoft’s investigation will be supervised by law firm Covington & Burling, marking the second time the company has examined IDF’s use of Azure. Previous investigations found no breach of Azure’s terms or harm to Gaza residents. However, there are concerns that some workers may have concealed information about the 8200 unit’s activities.

Tehilla Shwartz Altshuler, senior fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute, told Globes magazine that global cloud corporations are becoming de facto regulators, controlling data sovereignty. She cited Amazon barring NSO (makers of Pegasus spyware) from its cloud platform over human rights abuse concerns. The IDF responded, affirming its agreements with civilian companies comply with the law and international standards to protect security and residents.

(Michael Leahy. Source: Globes. Photo: ©Angel Bena/Pexels)