Microsoft Fires Two Employees Over Protests Against AI Contracts with Israeli Military

The terminations follow public demonstrations at the company's 50th anniversary event, highlighting ethical concerns over AI's role in military operations.

Microsoft terminated Ibtihal Aboussad and Vaniya Agrawal after they publicly protested the company's AI contracts with the Israeli military during its 50th anniversary event.
The protests targeted Microsoft's alleged complicity in human rights abuses in Gaza, accusing the company of enabling surveillance and military operations through its AI technology.
Aboussad interrupted a keynote speech by Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman, while Agrawal disrupted a Q&A session involving top executives, including Satya Nadella and Bill Gates.
Microsoft justified the firings by citing the disruptive nature of the protests and emphasizing the need for employees to express dissent through internal, confidential channels.
The incident reflects ongoing tensions over corporate ethics, employee dissent, and the role of AI in warfare, with similar firings reported in previous years over related protests.