Pentagon Investigates Microsoft Use of Chinese Workers, Faces Staff Protests over Israeli Military Ties

Microsoft is under intense scrutiny for its use of Chinese-based employees on sensitive Pentagon cloud systems and its business ties with the Israeli military amid multiple investigations and protests. The Pentagon has launched an investigation after reports revealed Microsoft did not fully disclose the use of foreign employees, including Chinese nationals, to work on defense cloud platforms, raising security concerns. Simultaneously, Microsoft faces worker-led protests at its headquarters demanding an immediate end to its contracts with Israel, following allegations that the Israeli Defense Forces used Microsoft's Azure cloud platform for mass surveillance and intelligence processing in Gaza and the West Bank. Microsoft has commissioned a law firm, Covington & Burling, to conduct an urgent review of these allegations, emphasizing that its terms of service prohibit such military uses, though many employees remain unconvinced by the company's response. These tensions highlight the ethical and security challenges Microsoft faces amid its global operations involving sensitive government and military technologies. The company has pledged to share findings from the ongoing investigations while grappling with internal dissent and external regulatory scrutiny.