Microsoft has blocked an Israeli navy unit from accessing some providers after preliminary proof supported a media investigation that the software program was used for surveillance of Palestinian civilian telephone calls.
The unit used Microsoft’s Azure software program to retailer “tens of millions” of recordings of cell phone calls made by Palestinians dwelling in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Financial institution, in response to a joint investigation by The Guardian and different shops revealed in August.
The investigation prompted an inner overview by Microsoft, which discovered particulars of the Israel Ministry of Defence’s (IMOD) consumption of Azure storage capability within the Netherlands and using AI providers supported the reporting.
“We don’t present expertise to facilitate mass surveillance of civilians,” Microsoft president Brad Smith stated in an organization weblog.
He stated the choice to “stop and disable” sure IMOD subscriptions, together with using particular cloud storage and AI providers, wouldn’t influence Microsoft’s cyber safety providers to Israel and different Center Japanese international locations.
A spokesperson for the IMOD informed Sky Information’ US accomplice community NBC that it had no remark following Microsoft’s announcement.
In August, the navy informed The Guardian that Microsoft “isn’t and has not been working with the (Israeli navy) on the storage or processing of information”.
Protesters marched close to the Microsoft Construct convention in Seattle, Washington, final yr. File pic: Reuters
Microsoft has been the goal of protests over its ties to Israel, together with by a tech trade worker-led marketing campaign group referred to as No Azure for Apartheid.
It’s amongst pro-Palestinian teams that welcomed Microsoft’s resolution to dam the Israeli navy from sure providers.
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It’s a “level of vindication for these courageous tech employees who stood up and protested”, stated Imraan Siddiqi, government director of the Washington state chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations.
The Guardian’s investigation was performed with Israeli-Palestinian publication +972 Journal and Hebrew-language outlet Native Name.
