Overview

• Microsoft engaged Covington & Burling LLP and an independent technical adviser to conduct an expanded, urgent external review into allegations of mass surveillance of Palestinians using Azure
• The investigation follows a joint report by The Guardian, +972 Magazine and Local Call that said Unit 8200 stored recordings of millions of Gaza and West Bank phone calls in a customised Azure enclave
• Microsoft maintains that any use of Azure for bulk civilian surveillance would violate its terms of service and pledges to publicly release the review’s factual findings
• Critics and the No Azure for Apartheid campaign dismissed the review as a stalling tactic and continue to demand that Microsoft terminate all cloud and AI contracts with the Israeli military
• The new probe expands on a May review that found no evidence of Azure being used to target civilians but acknowledged limited visibility into customer use on private or segregated systems