In a rare and significant move, Microsoft has disabled select cloud services provided to Israel’s Defense Ministry after determining the country violated its terms of service by using the platform for mass surveillance of Palestinian civilians .
The decision, announced on September 25, 2025, follows internal investigations and corroborates earlier reporting by The Guardian and Israeli outlet +972 Magazine, which revealed that Israeli authorities had been storing surveillance data—including records of millions of daily phone calls between Palestinians—on Microsoft’s Azure cloud infrastructure .
⚠️ Key Statement: “We do not provide technology to facilitate mass surveillance of civilians,” said Brad Smith, Microsoft’s president, in a company blog post .
What Microsoft Found
According to Microsoft’s internal review:
- Israel’s Defense Ministry used Azure cloud storage to archive bulk telecommunications metadata from Palestinian networks
- Data included call logs, timestamps, and location identifiers—potentially enabling real-time tracking
- This usage violated Microsoft’s Acceptable Use Policy, which prohibits surveillance that infringes on human rights
Broader Implications for Tech and War Zones
This marks one of the first times a major U.S. tech company has taken concrete action against a close U.S. ally over digital rights violations in an active conflict zone. The Gaza war, now in its 23rd month, has drawn increasing scrutiny over digital warfare tactics, including AI-driven targeting and mass data collection .
How Microsoft’s Policy Compares to Other Tech Giants
| Company | Current Stance on Israel | Human Rights Safeguards |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | Disabled surveillance-related cloud services | Prohibits mass civilian surveillance |
| Provides limited AI/cloud support; no public restrictions | General human rights policy; no Gaza-specific review | |
| Amazon (AWS) | Continues full cloud services to Israeli government | No public enforcement actions |
| Meta | No direct contracts; content moderation under scrutiny | Focuses on hate speech, not surveillance |
Reactions from Advocacy Groups
Human rights organizations welcomed Microsoft’s move as a “long-overdue step,” though many called for broader accountability:
- ✅ Access Now: “This sets a precedent for responsible tech in conflict zones.”
- ✅ Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF): Urged other firms to audit military contracts
- ⚠️ Israeli Government: Has not issued an official response as of September 27, 2025
What’s Next for Microsoft and Global Tech Ethics?
Microsoft says it will continue to monitor how its tools are used and may expand restrictions if violations persist. The company also emphasized its commitment to “rock solid trust” with customers—a stance that balances ethics with business interests in volatile regions .
For deeper analysis on digital warfare in Gaza, see our feature on the rise of AI and surveillance in modern conflict.
For authoritative guidance on corporate responsibility in conflict zones, refer to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
Sources
- The New York Times: Microsoft Disables Some Services to Israel’s Defense Ministry
- The Guardian: Israel Used Microsoft Cloud for Mass Palestinian Surveillance
- +972 Magazine: How Israel Built a Surveillance Apparatus on U.S. Cloud Platforms
- UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights: Business and Human Rights
