Microsoft recently fired two employees amid protests during the company’s 50th Anniversary Ceremony, where a group of workers demonstrated against the company’s provision of artificial intelligence technology to the Israeli military. The protest began when software engineer Ibtihal Aboussad confronted AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman on stage, accusing Microsoft of contributing to violence in the region. Despite attempts to de-escalate the situation, including Suleyman’s offer to listen, Aboussad yelled accusations and threw a Kefir scarf, a symbol of Palestinian support, before being escorted out.
The second employee, Vaniya Agrawal, was suspended following the event. Both employees faced consequences for their protests, which Microsoft labeled as “hostile” and disruptive. Microsoft’s response emphasized the importance of voicing concerns while maintaining business operations. Aboussad, hailing from the Toronto office, was informed of her immediate termination, while Agrawal’s resignation was expedited from a previously scheduled date.
This incident reflects ongoing tensions around Microsoft’s collaborations with Israel, following earlier protests from employees against contracts related to military operations. Microsoft did not comment on potential further actions against the protesting employees, who lost access to their work accounts shortly after the protests. Similar protests have occurred at Google over contracts with the Israeli government, leading to significant employee pushback and investigations into worker treatment.
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