Microsoft blocks access to Israeli AI technology used to monitor Palestinians

American technology company Microsoft announced that it has blocked Israel’s access to technology used for mass surveillance of Palestinian citizens.

Microsoft said that the company has blocked a secret intelligence unit of the Israeli army from its cloud services because the unit was using the platform for mass surveillance of Palestinians.

Microsoft said that the Israeli military intelligence unit violated the terms by misusing the company’s AI and data services.

Microsoft President and Vice Chairman Brad Smith said that the decision was made after an investigative report by the British newspaper The Guardian revealed the activities of the Israeli military’s secret unit.

The investigative report stated that the Israeli military unit 8200 used Microsoft’s Azure cloud service to steal data from Palestinian mobile phone call records. Using this technology, Israel uses Palestinians’ location and personal information for its own purposes.

This is reportedly the first time a major American tech company has banned the Israeli military for violating Palestinian rights.

Microsoft's decision comes after growing pressure from employees and investors who were concerned about the company's ties to Israel's military operations.