Microsoft restricts some cloud and AI services for Israeli military

Microsoft has restricted some cloud and AI services for a unit of Israel’s Ministry of Defense, citing a breach of service terms, according to Al Jazeera.

As Microsoft President Brad Smith said in a blog post, the company had disabled services after an internal review. This review was prompted by an August investigation by The Guardian, +972 Magazine and Local Call. The report alleged that Unit 8200, an elite Israeli military intelligence division, used Microsoft’s Azure platform to store and process large volumes of surveillance data on Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

Smith confirmed Microsoft bans the use of its technology for mass civilian surveillance and treats customer privacy as a core principle. He did not name the specific unit but confirmed that Microsoft canceled some Ministry of Defense subscriptions, including cloud storage and AI services.

Following the media investigation, Microsoft hired an outside law firm for a new review, which has already found terms of service violations.