Fri Sep 26 12:15:57 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and rewritten news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
Following an investigation revealing potential misuse of its technology, Microsoft has announced it is restricting some services to the Israeli military (IMOD). The investigation, conducted by The Guardian and Israeli publications, suggested that Israel was using Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform and AI services for mass surveillance of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. This follows earlier reports of similar surveillance and internal concerns within Microsoft, including employee protests and firings. Microsoft claims it was unaware of the specific ways its services were being used due to customer privacy regulations. While not specifying which services were cut off, Microsoft acknowledged concerns about the Israeli military’s use of Azure storage and AI. Critics remain skeptical about the impact of this partial restriction, noting the potential for Israel to circumvent the limitations and the continued availability of other Microsoft products. The broader issue of Israeli surveillance of Palestinians, including the use of facial recognition technology like Red Wolf, remains a significant human rights concern.
**News Article:**
**Microsoft Restricts Some Services to Israeli Military Amid Surveillance Concerns**
*By [Your Name/News Agency]*
REDMOND, WA – Microsoft announced Thursday that it is limiting the Israeli Ministry of Defense’s (IMOD) access to some of its services, including specific cloud storage and AI capabilities, after an investigation raised concerns about the potential use of its technology for mass surveillance of Palestinians.
The move follows a joint investigation by The Guardian, +972 Magazine, and Local Call in August, which alleged that the Israeli military was using Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform to monitor millions of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. The report alleged that the surveillance system, powered by AI, captured and stored millions of phone calls and texts, far exceeding previous capabilities.
Microsoft Vice Chairman Brad Smith stated in a blog post that an external review, prompted by the August report, revealed information previously unknown to the company and triggered the service limitations. While he didn’t detail the specific findings, he emphasized that Microsoft’s terms of service prohibit the use of its technology for mass surveillance of civilians.
“We therefore have informed IMOD of Microsoft’s decision to cease and disable specified IMOD subscriptions and their services, including their use of specific cloud storage and AI services and technologies,” Smith wrote. “We have reviewed this decision with IMOD and the steps we are taking to ensure compliance with our terms of service, focused on ensuring our services are not used for mass surveillance of civilians,” he added.
The decision marks a shift from Microsoft’s earlier stance. In May, following reports by The Associated Press of similar surveillance by Unit 8200, Israel’s intelligence agency, Microsoft claimed internal reviews found no evidence of its services being used to harm people in Gaza.
The August investigation detailed a 2021 meeting between Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and the then-head of Unit 8200, Yossi Sariel, to discuss storing large volumes of Israeli intelligence on Azure. The revelations spurred renewed internal criticism at Microsoft, with some employees being fired or resigning in protest over the company’s ties to the Israeli military.
Microsoft claims it was unaware of the specific uses of its technology due to customer privacy regulations. However, leaked documents and interviews suggested Unit 8200 was storing Palestinian communications on Azure.
It’s unclear exactly which services have been restricted, or how Microsoft will ensure compliance across the Israeli military. Critics remain skeptical, arguing that the move is limited and may not significantly impact Israel’s surveillance capabilities.
“Microsoft has only disabled a small subset of services for only one unit in the Israeli military,” said Hossam Nasr, a former Microsoft employee fired for protesting the company’s involvement in the Gaza war. “The vast majority of Microsoft’s contract with the Israeli military remains intact.”
An unnamed Israeli official told the AP that the decision would not significantly damage the operational capabilities of the army.
The announcement comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Israeli surveillance practices in the occupied Palestinian territories. Reports detail the use of facial recognition technology like Red Wolf to track and monitor Palestinians, raising concerns about discrimination and human rights violations. Amnesty International has concluded that Israel uses surveillance to “entrench” its system of apartheid.
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