Microsoft has disabled a number of services of the Ministry of Defense of Israel

Microsoft has ceased the operation of several of its services for the Israeli Ministry of Defense following an internal investigation. It confirmed that the company’s cloud technologies were used to store surveillance data on Palestinians. This decision marks the first public restriction of cooperation by a major American IT corporation with Israel since the conflict in Gaza began almost two years ago.

Results of the Internal Investigation

Microsoft President Brad Smith stated in a blog post that the investigation revealed the use of Azure cloud services and artificial intelligence tools by the Israeli military to process phone call data of Palestinians.

“Technology should not contribute to mass surveillance of the civilian population,” he added.

Monitoring Circumstances

According to information from The Guardian and the Israeli site +972, Israeli authorities collected millions of phone call recordings daily. This data was used for military operations in Gaza and the West Bank. Smith concluded that part of this information was confirmed during the internal investigation.

Service Restrictions

Although the details of the disabled services have not been disclosed, Microsoft reported the termination of the Israeli Ministry of Defense’s access to several subscriptions and cloud storage. Nevertheless, the company will continue to support the country in the field of cybersecurity.

Ministry’s Reaction

Official representatives of the Israeli Ministry of Defense refrained from commenting on the situation. An anonymous source noted that the country had already begun transferring data to other platforms, including Amazon, before Microsoft’s investigation began. Amazon’s press service has not yet responded to inquiries.

Signal for Other Companies

Amnesty International researcher Matt Mahmoudi stated that Microsoft’s behavior should serve as a warning signal for other companies providing cloud infrastructure and surveillance tools in Israel.

Surveillance Infrastructure

Israel continues to actively develop surveillance infrastructure on Palestinians, using various technologies, including products from companies like Google, Oracle, and others. Google has a cloud computing contract with Israel worth $1.2 billion.

Continuation of the Investigation

Microsoft continues its investigation and plans to provide additional information soon. Brad Smith emphasized that the company will be guided by “principles and ethics,” while customer privacy issues will remain a priority.