Microsoft’s annual Build conference faced significant disruptions due to protests against the company’s business dealings with Israel, an event compounded by an accidental internal reveal of Walmart’s expanding AI strategy. The Microsoft Build protest underscored growing tensions surrounding tech companies’ roles in geopolitical conflicts.
Demonstrations Decry Microsoft’s Israel Contract
The conference agenda was interrupted when former Microsoft software engineers Hossam Nasr and Vaniya Agrawal voiced their dissent during a presentation on AI security best practices. Their actions were part of planned demonstrations by No Azure for Apartheid, an organization condemning Microsoft’s provision of products and services to the Israeli government and military. The group highlighted the reported tens of thousands of civilian deaths in Gaza since October 2023. The session, led by Neta Haiby, head of AI security, and Sarah Bird, head of responsible AI, saw its livestream muted and camera diverted to prevent broadcasting the disturbance. According to The Verge, Nasr was heard shouting, “Sarah, you are whitewashing the crimes of Microsoft in Palestine, how dare you talk about responsible AI when Microsoft is fueling the genocide in Palestine!”
Accidental Leak Reveals Walmart’s AI Trajectory
Following the removal of the protesters, an unintentional switch to Microsoft Teams by Haiby while screen-sharing exposed confidential communications. These messages detailed Walmart’s intentions to broaden its use of artificial intelligence. One message from a Microsoft cloud solution architect stated, “Walmart is ready to rock and roll with Entra Web and AI Gateway.” Another cited a Walmart AI engineer, remarking, “Microsoft is WAY ahead of Google with AI security. We are excited to go down this path with you!” This inadvertent disclosure offered a glimpse into Walmart’s AI strategy and its partnership with Microsoft.
Tech Worker Activism and Rising Tensions
The incident is part of a broader history of tech worker activism concerning the application of their work. Tensions within Microsoft escalated notably after a February Associated Press report detailed the company’s $133 million contract with Israel. Prior to this, Nasr was among two Microsoft employees fired for organizing a vigil for Palestinians killed in Gaza.
Since the AP report, “No Azure for Apartheid” has increased its activities, including a silent confrontation with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella at a town hall, disruptions at Microsoft’s 50th Anniversary, and interrupting Nadella’s Build keynote. Jay Parikh, Microsoft’s head of CoreAI, also faced an interruption during his keynote speech.
Microsoft’s Stance and Activist Rebuttals
In an attempt to quell the protests, Microsoft announced that internal and external reviews found no evidence its products had harmed people in Gaza. The company stated that Israel’s Ministry of Defense is obligated to adhere to its terms of service and AI Code of Conduct, with no indication of non-compliance. However, Microsoft provided limited details about its review process and conceded its inability to monitor software usage on private servers or systems outside its cloud infrastructure.
“No Azure for Apartheid” swiftly responded with a statement, accusing Microsoft of providing the “technological backbone of Israel’s genocidal war machine.” The organization cited a +972 Magazine report indicating Microsoft’s presence in major Israeli military infrastructures and AP News findings that Azure is used for compiling information from mass surveillance of Palestinians.
The Shifting Dynamics of Dissent in Big Tech
Historically, tech workers occasionally achieved concessions through activism; Microsoft itself divested from an Israeli facial recognition firm in 2020 following significant backlash. More recently, however, Big Tech has adopted a stricter stance against worker activism. Both Nasr and Agrawal, involved in the latest Build presentation disruption, were subsequently fired for their protest actions, signaling a challenging environment for employee dissent.
In summary, the disruptions at Microsoft Build, coupled with the accidental data leak, highlight the complex interplay between corporate interests, geopolitical issues, and employee activism within the tech industry. The events underscore the persistent scrutiny on Microsoft Israel ties and the severe consequences faced by employees engaging in public protest.
