Microsoft Fires Employee for Protesting AI Tech Use in Gaza Conflict During CEO's Speech

Microsoft fires employee who interrupted CEO's speech to protest AI tech for Israeli military

SEATTLE (AP) -- Microsoft has fired an employee who interrupted a speech by CEO Satya Nadella to protest the company's work supplying the Israeli military with technology used for the war in Gaza. Software engineer Joe Lopez could be heard shouting at Nadella in the opening minutes Monday of the tech giant's annual Build developer conference in Seattle before getting escorted out of the room. Lopez later sent a mass email to colleagues disputing the company's claims about how its Azure cloud computing platform is used in Gaza. Lopez's outburst was the first of several pro-Palestinian disruptions at the event that drew thousands of software developers to the Seattle Convention Center. At least three talks by executives were disrupted, the company even briefly cut the audio of one livestreamed event. Protesters also gathered outside the venue. Microsoft has previously fired employees who protested company events over its work in Israel, including at its 50th anniversary party in April. Microsoft acknowledged last week that it provided AI services to the Israeli military for the war in Gaza but said it had found no evidence to date that its Azure platform and AI technologies were used to target or harm people in Gaza. The advocacy group No Azure for Apartheid, led by employees and ex-employees, says Lopez received a termination letter after his Monday protest but couldn't open it. The group also says the company has blocked internal emails that mention words including "Palestine" and "Gaza." Microsoft hasn't returned emailed requests for comment about its response to this week's protests. The four-day conference ends Thursday.

Microsoft fires employee who interrupted CEO's speech to protest AI tech for Israeli military

SEATTLE -- Microsoft has fired an employee who interrupted a speech by CEO Satya Nadella to protest the company's work supplying the Israeli military with technology used for the war in Gaza. Software engineer Joe Lopez could be heard shouting at Nadella in the opening minutes Monday of the tech giant's annual Build developer conference in Seattle before getting escorted out of the room. Lopez later sent a mass email to colleagues disputing the company's claims about how its Azure cloud computing platform is used in Gaza. Lopez's outburst was the first of several pro-Palestinian disruptions at the event that drew thousands of software developers to the Seattle Convention Center. At least three talks by executives were disrupted, the company even briefly cut the audio of one livestreamed event. Protesters also gathered outside the venue. Microsoft has previously fired employees who protested company events over its work in Israel, including at its 50th anniversary party in April. Microsoft acknowledged last week that it provided AI services to the Israeli military for the war in Gaza but said it had found no evidence to date that its Azure platform and AI technologies were used to target or harm people in Gaza. The advocacy group No Azure for Apartheid, led by employees and ex-employees, says Lopez received a termination letter after his Monday protest but couldn't open it. The group also says the company has blocked internal emails that mention words including "Palestine" and "Gaza." Microsoft hasn't returned emailed requests for comment about its response to this week's protests. The four-day conference ends Thursday.

Microsoft fires engineer who disrupted Satya Nadella's keynote over Israel ties

Microsoft terminated a software engineer, Joe Lopez, for disrupting CEO Satya Nadella's keynote at the Build 2025 conference, protesting the company's ties with the Israeli military amid the Gaza conflict. Lopez's actions, along with other demonstrations during the event, highlight ongoing internal dissent regarding Microsoft's role in the region.Microsoft has terminated a software engineer who disrupted CEO Satya Nadella's keynote address at the company's Build 2025 developer conference. The engineer, Joe Lopez, interrupted the speech in protest of Microsoft's business relationship with the Israeli military during the ongoing conflict in Gaza. During the keynote at the Seattle Convention Center, Lopez shouted from the audience: "Free Palestine. How about you show them how Microsoft is killing Palestinians? How about you show them how Israeli war crimes are powered by Azure?" Security personnel quickly removed him from the venue. As he was being escorted out, Lopez continued, "As a Microsoft worker, I refuse to be complicit in this genocide." According to the advocacy group "No Azure for Apartheid," Lopez was sent a termination letter following the protest. The group stated that Lopez was reportedly unable to access the letter. Shortly after the incident, Lopez sent a mass email to Microsoft staff, disputing the company's statements regarding the use of its Azure cloud technology in Gaza. "Leadership rejects our claims that Azure technology is being used to target or harm civilians in Gaza," he wrote. "Those of us who have been paying attention know that this is a bold-faced lie. Every byte of data that is stored on the cloud (much of it likely containing data obtained by illegal mass surveillance) can and will be used as justification to level cities and exterminate Palestinians." Lopez's protest was one of several that occurred during the four-day conference. At least three executive sessions were interrupted, and demonstrators gathered outside the venue. A livestream's audio was also briefly cut during one of the protests. In another incident, Vaniya Agrawal, a former Microsoft engineer, and Hossam Nasr, another ex-employee, interrupted a session led by the company's head of AI security, Neta Haiby. On May 20, a Palestinian tech worker interrupted a keynote by Microsoft executive Jay Parikh, shouting: "Jay! My people are suffering." Last week, Microsoft confirmed that it provides AI services to the Israeli military. However, the company stated it had found no evidence that Azure or other AI tools had been used to directly target or harm civilians in Gaza. Despite the company's position, internal protests continue. The employee-led group behind the demonstrations claims Microsoft has blocked internal emails containing terms such as "Palestine" and "Gaza." Microsoft previously dismissed employees for similar actions, including protests during its 50th anniversary event in April.

Microsoft fires employee who interrupted CEO's speech to protest AI...

Microsoft has fired an employee who interrupted a speech by CEO Satya Nadella to protest the company's work supplying the Israeli military with technology used for the war in Gaza. Software engineer Joe Lopez could be heard shouting at Nadella in the opening minutes Monday of the tech giant's annual Build developer conference in Seattle before getting escorted out of the room. Lopez later sent a mass email to colleagues disputing the company's claims about how its Azure cloud computing platform is used in Gaza. Lopez's outburst was the first of several pro-Palestinian disruptions at the event that drew thousands of software developers to the Seattle Convention Center. At least three talks by executives were disrupted, the company even briefly cut the audio of one livestreamed event. Protesters also gathered outside the venue. Microsoft has previously fired employees who protested company events over its work in Israel, including at its 50th anniversary party in April. Microsoft acknowledged last week that it provided AI services to the Israeli military for the war in Gaza but said it had found no evidence to date that its Azure platform and AI technologies were used to target or harm people in Gaza. The advocacy group No Azure for Apartheid, led by employees and ex-employees, says Lopez received a termination letter after his Monday protest but couldn't open it. The group also says the company has blocked internal emails that mention words including "Palestine" and "Gaza." Microsoft hasn't returned emailed requests for comment about its response to this week's protests. The four-day conference ends Thursday.