Story Highlight
– Microsoft investigates Unit 8200’s use of Azure cloud.
– Concerns about Israeli staff’s transparency emerge.
– Unit 8200 stores millions of intercepted calls in Azure.
– Executives doubt information from Israeli employees on usage.
– Worker group demands Microsoft end ties with military.
Full Story
Microsoft is currently under scrutiny regarding the use of its Azure cloud platform by Israel’s military intelligence agency, Unit 8200. This investigation follows a report highlighting the agency’s utilization of Azure to retain a substantial archive of intercepted communications from Palestinian mobile phones.
The collaborative investigation involving the Guardian, the Israeli-Palestinian outlet +972 Magazine, and Local Call has unveiled that Unit 8200 designated a specific section within Azure to store millions of daily phone call recordings from Gaza and the West Bank. Insights gained from this extensive collection are reportedly leveraged to assist in identifying bombing targets within Gaza.
The findings, published on Wednesday, have sparked concern among Microsoft’s senior management, raising questions about whether staff members in Israel have been transparent regarding their awareness of how Unit 8200 employs Azure’s capabilities. Following the investigation, internal discussions have highlighted the necessity for a thorough assessment of the data contained within the company’s data centers, specifically its role in the Israeli military’s operations against Gaza.
In May, Microsoft stated that a review conducted concerning its affiliations with military entities did not establish any evidence suggesting Azure had been utilized for harming individuals in Gaza. This review’s conclusions were partly based on assurances from staff in Israel. Recently, however, some executives in the company’s US headquarters have expressed skepticism about the reliability of these assurances, questioning whether employees have been prioritizing their ties to the military over corporate obligations.
Documents leaked to the Guardian indicate that several Microsoft employees managing military-related projects have backgrounds in or connections to Unit 8200, which parallels the function of the US National Security Agency. Despite rising concerns from its leadership, Microsoft has not initiated a formal investigation akin to the earlier review that was spurred by media reports regarding Israel’s dependence on its technology during military actions in Gaza.
A Microsoft spokesperson has emphasized the company’s commitment to addressing these allegations seriously, citing previous independent investigations. They affirmed that as new information emerges, there will be a concerted effort to validate this data and undertake necessary actions.
Further leaked information revealed that Microsoft was aware that Unit 8200 intended to transfer significant volumes of sensitive intelligence data into Azure as part of an agreement established in 2021 to enhance security measures within the platform. However, the company has maintained that its senior executives were unaware of any connection to the storage of intercepted communications within Azure.
In response to the revelations, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) publicly declared their appreciation for Microsoft’s cybersecurity support, asserting that Microsoft was not involved in the storage or processing of military data. This statement reportedly surprised many within Microsoft’s leadership, as the provision of cloud services to the military under contracts with Israel’s defense ministry is not a secret.
As a consequence of these developments, a worker-led coalition called No Azure for Apartheid (Noaa) has made several demands, advocating for the termination of Microsoft’s collaboration with the Israeli military and for greater transparency regarding their ties. Organizer Abdo Mohamed, who was dismissed from the company last year, stated that Microsoft’s executives, including CEO Satya Nadella, are reportedly oblivious to the extent of the company’s involvement with Israeli operations, despite being the ones who initiated this partnership.
