Microsoft shareholders call for review of ties to Israel — “In the face of serious allegations of complicity in genocide and other international crimes, Microsoft’s HRDD processes appear ineffective”

by

Microsoft is encountering more demonstrations due to its ties with the Israeli government and military. A large number of Microsoft stockholders have submitted a plan to require Microsoft to release a report detailing their procedures for ensuring human rights, specifically in relation to preventing, recognizing, and rectifying any misuse of Microsoft’s artificial intelligence and cloud technologies that infringe upon human rights or international humanitarian law.

According to reports from Bloomberg, PC Gamer, and various other sources, the documentation suggests that Microsoft’s HRDD procedures may not be functioning as intended. Furthermore, this filing raises doubts about several points within Microsoft’s review on the matter, with their findings being previously communicated in a statement issued in May.

The document offers no clarification about the type of evaluations, the specific meaning of ‘harm,’ or the party responsible for conducting these assessments. It is worth noting that the statement acknowledges a substantial blind spot in Microsoft’s HRDD (Human Rights Due Diligence): Microsoft does not have insight into how their software is utilized on customers’ personal servers or other devices.

Compared to the vastness of Microsoft, the number of shareholders advocating for the proposal is quite modest. However, these shareholders collectively hold approximately 80 million dollars’ worth of Microsoft stocks.

Among all Microsoft shareholders, the 60 joint filers constitute the biggest collective group to support a resolution in the company’s history, despite being relatively small compared to the total number of shareholders.

During Microsoft’s yearly shareholders meeting in December 2025, the decision regarding the resolution will be taken.

Discussions about Microsoft often revolve around their interactions with the Israeli government, particularly in regard to the services they offer. These services encompass Azure cloud services, artificial intelligence services, and language translation solutions, which are extended to the Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMOD).

Microsoft, in their statement from May, highlighted that their partnership with IMOD operates under conventional business terms.

Microsoft stated it conducted both an internal assessment and an external review of the situation:

After examining all aspects, from our internal evaluations and external reviews, we haven’t discovered any instances where Microsoft’s Azure, AI technologies, or any other software we offer, have been employed to cause harm to individuals. Furthermore, IMOD has consistently adhered to our terms of service and our AI Code of Conduct.

Microsoft issued a response following an Associated Press story suggesting that the Israeli military’s reliance on Microsoft and OpenAI tech significantly increased following a Hamas assault on October 7, 2023.

Microsoft specifically mentioned that attack in its May statement:

On certain occasions, we go beyond the standard terms of our business contracts to grant special access to our technologies. For instance, after October 7, 2023, Microsoft offered limited emergency aid to the Israeli government, aimed at rescuing hostages. This assistance was closely monitored and given on a restricted scale, with some requests approved and others denied. We believe that our actions were guided by our principles, enabling us to help save lives while respecting the privacy and rights of civilians in Gaza.

Microsoft faces growing calls to sever connections with the Israeli government and military. During its 50th anniversary celebration and Build 2025 conference, protests disrupted events.

Microsoft dismissed Ibtihal Aboussad from their 50th anniversary event and admonished her for failing to offer an apology.

In an email viewed by The Verge, it was stated that your behavior was intentionally planned to seek attention and inflict significant disruption on this eagerly awaited event. It’s troubling that you haven’t expressed regret towards the company, and furthermore, there’s been no indication of remorse for the impact your actions have had and will continue to have.

Microsoft has faced criticism from various quarters, with Brian Eno – the inventor of the Windows 95 startup melody – expressing his disapproval.

Eno stated, “If you intentionally create structures that may facilitate war atrocities, then you indirectly participate in those very crimes.

Additionally, he mentioned that the funds initially earned from crafting the iconic Windows 95 tune would be directed towards aiding those affected by conflicts in Gaza. He expressed, “If a sound could symbolize genuine transformation, may it be this one.

In isolation, a group called No Azure for Apartheid has gathered more than 1,500 signatures from Microsoft employees on a petition. Previously employed at Microsoft, an engineer sent out an email to numerous internal addresses within the company. This message touched upon the planned protest during Build 2025 and Microsoft’s ties with the Israeli government.

“Microsoft is killing kids? Is my work killing kids?” read the email sent to Microsoft employees.

After the demonstration and correspondence, Microsoft workers discovered they couldn’t send emails with the terms “Palestine” or “Gaza”. Microsoft acknowledged this action was taken to minimize politically charged emails within their organization.

Read More

2025-07-15 00:39