REDMOND, WA – Two Microsoft employees were terminated following a public protest during the company’s 50th anniversary celebration, in which they denounced Microsoft’s reported role in supplying artificial intelligence tools to the Israeli military.
The protest occurred on April 4 during a high-profile keynote at Microsoft’s Redmond campus, where AI Chief Mustafa Suleyman was presenting updates to the company’s Copilot AI assistant. The event was being live-streamed and attended by notable figures including Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer.
During the keynote, software engineer Ibtihal Aboussad interrupted the stage, calling out Microsoft’s alleged involvement in military operations through AI collaborations.
Palestine Red Crescent demands international investigation after 15 humanitarian workers are killed in Gaza.
Read More“You say your goal is ethical AI, but Microsoft’s technology is fueling violence in the Middle East,” she stated, pointing to thousands of casualties and accusing Microsoft of contributing to a humanitarian crisis.
Security personnel quickly removed Aboussad from the stage, briefly halting the keynote address. The next business day, Microsoft fired Aboussad, who was based at the company’s Toronto office. Advocacy group No Azure for Apartheid confirmed she received official notice from HR during a meeting.
Early Life and Background: Sarah Khan was born on July 14, 1992, in Medina, Saudi Arabia. She moved to Karachi, Pakistan, at a young age, where she completed her education. Coming from a family with artistic inclinations, her sister, Noor Khan, is also a well-known actress in the Pakistani entertainment industry.
Read MoreA second employee, who had earlier resigned, was also asked to leave her role early due to her participation in the demonstration.
Microsoft justified the disciplinary actions in an internal memo, stating that the protest aimed to cause significant disruption at a major corporate event, violating company policy.
Microsoft Faces Growing Criticism Over AI Use in Military Operations
The employee protest reflects mounting concern among staff and human rights organizations over the use of Microsoft Azure cloud services and AI technologies in Israeli military systems.
Earlier this year, an Associated Press investigation revealed that Microsoft’s AI tools, developed in partnership with OpenAI, were reportedly used to assist in target identification during recent operations in Gaza and Lebanon.
The same report cited a tragic 2023 airstrike in Lebanon that mistakenly targeted a civilian vehicle, killing three children and their grandmother. The incident intensified public backlash and employee activism within Microsoft.
Key Highlights:
- Two employees dismissed after anti-war protest during Microsoft’s 50th anniversary
- Protest targeted Microsoft’s alleged role in supplying AI to Israeli military
- Event featured Microsoft AI Chief Mustafa Suleyman and co-founder Bill Gates
- Protestor accused Microsoft of fueling violence in Gaza and Lebanon
- Microsoft cites event disruption and policy violations as grounds for termination
- Growing criticism over use of AI in military operations and targeting systems
