Microsoft Ends Controversial Military AI Contract Following Surveillance Allegations

In a significant policy shift, Microsoft has terminated its technology partnership with an elite Israeli military intelligence unit. The decision comes after internal investigations revealed the company’s cloud and AI services were allegedly utilized in mass surveillance operations targeting Palestinian civilians.

The Redmond-based technology giant announced on Thursday that it would discontinue specific services provided to Israel’s Unit 8200. This move followed an extensive internal assessment that uncovered preliminary evidence of a large-scale surveillance program. The review was prompted in part by an August report from The Guardian, which detailed how Microsoft’s Azure cloud infrastructure was being used to store millions of recorded Palestinian civilian phone calls.

Brad Smith, Microsoft’s President, stated in a corporate blog... Read more...