Hello everyone,
As some of you may have seen during the livestream or in person, I interrupted the speech of Mustafa Suleyman, the CEO of Microsoft AI, at the much-anticipated celebration of the company’s 50th anniversary. I want to explain my reasons for this.
My name is Ibtihal, and I have been a software engineer in Microsoft’s AI Platform organization for the last 3.5 years. I felt compelled to speak out because I learned that my organization contributes to the genocide of my people in Palestine. This realization became all the more pressing as I witnessed efforts by Microsoft to silence any dissenting voices among my colleagues regarding this issue. For the past year and a half, our Arab, Palestinian, and Muslim community within Microsoft has endured silence, intimidation, and harassment, all without accountability from the company. Attempts to raise concerns have met with indifference, and in some cases, resulted in the dismissal of coworkers for simply attending a vigil. This left us with no choice but to make our grievances heard.
Witnessing Atrocity
For the past 1.5 years, I have observed the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people carried out by Israel. The distressing human rights violations have included indiscriminate bombings, assaults on hospitals and schools, and the ongoing existence of an apartheid state—actions condemned by the UN, ICC, ICJ, and numerous humanitarian organizations. The images of innocent children devastated by violence and the grief-stricken cries of their parents will haunt me forever.
Our Shared Responsibility
Currently, Israel has intensified its actions in Gaza, reportedly resulting in the deaths of over 300,000 Gazans in just the past 1.5 years. Recently, it was uncovered that Israeli forces executed fifteen paramedics and rescuers in Gaza, burying them in the sand, an act labeled as a war crime. Meanwhile, our purportedly “responsible” AI contributes to this surveillance and violence. Both the UN and the International Court of Justice have classified these acts as genocide, with arrest warrants issued for Israeli leaders by the International Criminal Court.
Complicity in Violence
When I transitioned to the AI Platform, my initial excitement stemmed from the belief that I could develop cutting-edge technology for the betterment of humanity—such as accessibility tools and translation services. I was unaware that my work would end up supporting the Israeli military, enabling activities aimed at targeting and harming civilians, including journalists and aid workers. Had I known that my contributions would assist in surveillance and targeting Palestinians, I would have never joined. I didn’t sign up to create technologies that violate human rights.
Call for Action
Consider the fact that there exists a $133 million contract between Microsoft and Israel’s Ministry of Defense. Our company’s technology has been used by the Israeli military for extensive surveillance and targeting, which has escalated dramatically since March, and has transformed the operational capabilities in Gaza. Microsoft’s involvement is significant enough that it has recently become a key target of the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement. What legacy do we want to uphold? Can we justify contributing to the development of technology used in warfare against innocents?
Join the Movement
Regardless of your specific role in the company, every employee indirectly supports a corporation that is facilitating the occupation and violence. We must collectively rise to this challenge and demand that Microsoft stop its technological support for military actions. Join me in urging our leadership to end these contracts, and spread awareness among your colleagues—a significant number may be unaware of these issues. Microsoft’s human rights policy prohibits retaliation against those who raise concerns, and together, we can push for an ethical direction for the company.
Together, let’s strive for a future where our work does not perpetuate violence and abuse. Speak up, act, and demand accountability. We owe it to ourselves and the communities suffering from these injustices.
Sincerely,
A concerned Microsoft employee
