Microsoft terminated the employment of two software engineers, Ibtihal Aboussad and Vaniya Agrawal, for protesting at company events against the Israeli military’s use of the company’s AI products. The two employees interrupted speeches by Microsoft executives to voice their criticism, with Aboussad calling out the company for enabling genocide in Palestine. Microsoft cited “wilful misconduct” and disruption of company events as the reasons for their termination.
The protests overshadowed Microsoft’s 50th-anniversary celebrations, drawing attention to the controversial use of AI technology by the Israeli military. The company’s handling of the situation raised concerns among shareholders and executives, including former CEOs Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer, who raised discomfort about President Trump’s tariffs affecting the company.
Aboussad and Agrawal both sent emails to Microsoft executives explaining their actions, highlighting their concerns about human rights violations and the company’s involvement in the military-industrial complex. Microsoft responded by stating that disrupting company events was not an appropriate way to raise concerns and that the employees could have used internal channels to address their issues.
Overall, the protests at Microsoft’s events reflect growing scrutiny around tech companies’ involvement in controversial projects, such as supplying AI technology to military operations. The company’s decision to terminate the employees demonstrates a zero-tolerance policy for disruptive behavior but also raises questions about freedom of expression within the workplace.
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