Microsoft’s 50th Anniversary Marred by Employee Protest Over AI Use in Palestine Conflict
Staff Editor Microsoft’s 50th Anniversary Event Disrupted by Employee Protest
In a dramatic turn of events, Microsoft’s 50th anniversary celebration was interrupted by an employee who accused the tech giant of using artificial intelligence (AI) for genocide in Palestine. Ibtihal Aboussad, a software engineer with the company for 3.5 years, confronted Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman directly, labeling him a “war profiteer.”
Following the incident, Aboussad sent an email to numerous Microsoft employees explaining her actions and detailing her concerns. In the email, she claimed that her organization within Microsoft is involved in the genocide of Palestinians and described what she perceives as suppression of dissent within the company regarding its AI practices.
Aboussad’s protest stems from her personal experiences witnessing what she describes as human rights violations in Palestine, including bombings and targeting of civilians. She referenced international condemnation and legal actions against Israel to support her claims.
The software engineer revealed that she initially joined Microsoft to work on beneficial AI applications but later discovered that her work was allegedly being used by the Israeli military for surveillance and targeting operations. Aboussad cited a $133 million contract between Microsoft and Israel’s Ministry of Defense as evidence of the company’s involvement in military operations against Palestinians.
In her email, Aboussad called on fellow Microsoft employees to take action against the company’s involvement in military contracts. She encouraged colleagues to sign petitions, join campaigns, and engage in discussions about Microsoft’s AI practices. The engineer also highlighted Microsoft’s human rights statement and past actions in support of human rights, urging the company to align its current practices with these principles.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how Microsoft will respond to these allegations and the potential impact on its AI initiatives and military contracts. The incident has reignited debates about the ethical use of technology and the responsibilities of tech companies in global conflicts.
