In a dramatic turn of events, Microsoft’s 50th anniversary celebration on April 4, 2025, was overshadowed by a fiery protest from within its own ranks. Two employees, Ibtihal Aboussad and Vaniya Agrawal, disrupted the Redmond, Washington, event to voice their outrage over the company’s use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in contracts with the Israeli military. Their bold actions have since led to their termination, igniting a fresh wave of debate about corporate ethics, employee rights, and the role of tech giants in global conflicts.
The anniversary event, attended by luminaries like co-founder Bill Gates and former CEO Steve Ballmer, was meant to be a triumphant showcase of Microsoft’s legacy and future innovations. Instead, it became a stage for dissent. As Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman presented updates on the AI assistant Copilot, Aboussad stormed toward the stage, accusing the company of complicity in what she called a “genocide” in Gaza. “You claim that you care about using AI for good, but Microsoft sells AI weapons to the Israeli military,” she shouted, referencing the reported deaths of 50,000 Palestinians. She punctuated her protest by throwing a keffiyeh scarf—a symbol of Palestinian solidarity—onto the stage before being escorted out. Agrawal followed with a similar disruption later in the event.
Suleyman responded calmly, saying, “Thank you for your protest, I hear you,” but the fallout was swift. By Monday, April 7, both employees had been fired. Aboussad was informed of her immediate termination during a video call with HR, while Agrawal received an email notification, according to the advocacy group No Azure for Apartheid, which opposes Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform sales to Israel. The pair had lost access to their work accounts shortly after the protest, a move that hinted at their fate.
The controversy stems from Microsoft’s AI dealings with Israel, spotlighted earlier this year by an Associated Press investigation. The report revealed that Microsoft and OpenAI models were integrated into an Israeli military program to select bombing targets in Gaza and Lebanon, raising ethical questions about the technology’s role in civilian casualties. This isn’t the first time Microsoft employees have clashed with leadership over such contracts—five others were ejected from a meeting with CEO Satya Nadella in February for similar protests. However, the public nature of the anniversary livestream amplified this latest incident, drawing global attention.
Microsoft’s official stance emphasizes maintaining a “professional and respectful work environment.” In a statement, the company said it provides “many avenues for all voices to be heard” but stressed that disruptions to business operations are not tolerated. Critics, including the fired employees’ supporters, argue this reflects a broader trend of tech firms silencing dissent. The terminations echo last year’s firing of dozens of Google workers over protests against Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion AI contract with Israel.
For Aboussad and Agrawal, the personal cost is steep. Aboussad, a software engineer, told AP she joined Microsoft to advance AI for humanity’s benefit—not to aid military actions she believes violate human rights. Their dismissal has fueled calls from groups like No Azure for Apartheid for transparency and an end to such contracts. Meanwhile, Microsoft has remained tight-lipped about further actions, leaving the tech community and observers to ponder the balance between corporate policy and moral accountability.
As of April 8, 2025, this incident underscores a growing tension in the tech industry: employees demanding their employers align with their values, even at the risk of their livelihoods. Whether this sparks broader change at Microsoft—or simply fades into its 50-year history—remains to be seen. For now, the anniversary that was meant to celebrate progress has instead highlighted a profound rift.
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