Microsoft Employee Arrested During Protest Against Israeli Contracts

A Microsoft employee was arrested this week during protests at the company’s Redmond, Washington headquarters. The demonstrations, organized by the group ‘No Azure for Apartheid,’ are focused on Microsoft’s contracts with the Israeli government. This is not the first time Microsoft employees have taken action against these contracts; previous protests have included disruptions at company events and even resulted in Microsoft blocking emails containing the word “Palestine.”

The recent protests involved a two-day occupation of a plaza on Microsoft’s campus, culminating in arrests on the second day. According to reports, 18 people were arrested, including at least one current Microsoft employee. The protestors engaged in various actions, including setting up a “Liberated Zone” and pouring red paint on a Microsoft sign. Redmond Police allege some protestors became aggressive and blocked a pedestrian bridge. A Microsoft spokesperson issued a statement saying the company is conducting an independent review into allegations of its Azure platform being used in Israel to store data of Palestinian calls, and that it is committed to upholding human rights standards.

This escalation in protest activity follows a recent investigation by *The Guardian*, *+972 Magazine*, and *Local Call* that revealed the Israeli government’s use of Microsoft’s cloud services to store recordings of up to a million Palestinian phone calls per hour. The protestors argue that these contracts contribute to human rights abuses, and their actions represent a growing concern within Microsoft and the broader tech community over the ethical implications of technology’s role in geopolitical conflicts. The arrests signal the increasing tension between employee activism and corporate policies on controversial contracts.

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