Through a new joint letter, Access Now, Amnesty International, 7amleh, Fight for the Future, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) are calling on Microsoft to publish the findings of its review into the Israeli military’s use of the company’s Azure cloud and AI services, and to take immediate action to prevent its technologies from contributing to violations of international law against Palestinians.
The organizations demand that Microsoft provide full transparency and accountability, especially in light of recent media reports that the company has transferred the management of its Israeli branch to Microsoft France amid scrutiny over its non-transparent dealings with the Israeli Ministry of Defence.
Access Now has been made aware that Microsoft has completed its legal review into Israel’s use of its technologies to surveil and kill Palestinians, yet the findings have not been released as promised. The company has taken a commendable step, but it remains incomplete as long as it doesn’t publicly disclose the results of its investigation and outline the concrete measures it will undertake to confirm there is no complicity in international law violations.Marwa Fatafta, MENA Policy and Advocacy Director at Access Now
Multiple media investigations by The Guardian, +972 Magazine and Local Call, and The Associated Press revealed that Microsoft cloud and AI services were reportedly used by Israeli military and intelligence units to store and process vast amounts of surveillance data, including intercepted Palestinian communications. According to these reports, this data was then used in lethal military operations in Gaza, including identifying and killing Palestinians. Along with partners, Access Now has warned that continuing to provide such technologies exposes the company and individuals within it to civil and criminal liability for facilitating, assisting, or otherwise being complicit in Israel’s commission of atrocity crimes and serious human rights abuses against the Palestinians across the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).
Despite previously announcing restrictions related to Unit 8200 — Israel’s military intelligence unit — Microsoft has not disclosed which services were suspended, which remain active, or what safeguards have been implemented to prevent further harm.
Microsoft has strong policies against the use of its technology for mass surveillance — but policies without action are insufficient. This is the time for Microsoft to provide the full transparency that shows it takes these commitments seriously.Isedua Oribhabor, Business & Human Rights Manager at Access Now
The organizations are urging Microsoft to publish the review in full, to conduct meaningful human rights due diligence across all contracts with Israeli military and government entities, and to suspend all services and contracts where there is evidence that such business activities are contributing to grave human rights abuses and crimes under international law.