Israeli Surveillance Uses Azure AI, Spurs Staff Dissent

A joint investigation by The Guardian, +972 Magazine, and Local Call has revealed that Israel's Unit 8200 has used Microsoft's Azure cloud platform since 2022 to store and analyze millions of intercepted Palestinian phone calls from Gaza and the West Bank. The program, approved in principle by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella after a 2021 meeting with Unit 8200’s commander, leverages Azure’s AI and storage capabilities to archive and process civilian communications. The intercepted data, stored mainly in Microsoft’s data centers in the Netherlands and Ireland, has reportedly supported Israeli military operations, including identifying targets for airstrikes and detentions. Internal sources and leaked documents suggest some Microsoft employees were aware of the project's surveillance scope, despite the company's public denials. The revelations have sparked internal dissent among Microsoft staff and increased scrutiny of the company's involvement in Israeli military activities. Microsoft maintains it was unaware of the true nature of the data and continues to deny direct involvement in surveillance or targeting.