Microsoft Employees Arrested During Pro-Palestinian Protest at Redmond Campus

Eighteen individuals were arrested Wednesday afternoon at Microsoft's Redmond, Washington, headquarters during a pro-Palestinian protest organized by the group No Azure for Apartheid. The demonstrators, comprising current and former Microsoft employees, oppose the company's provision of artificial intelligence and cloud services to the Israeli military, alleging these technologies are used in operations against Palestinians.

During the protest, participants poured paint over a Microsoft sign, blocked a pedestrian bridge, and attempted to create a blockade, according to Redmond police. A Microsoft spokesperson stated, "Yesterday, approximately 35 protesters gathered and protested on the Microsoft campus. When local police officers informed them that this was not permitted on private property, they left. Today, the group returned and engaged in vandalism and property damage. They also disrupted, harassed, and took tables and tents from local small businesses at a lunchtime farmer’s market for employees. Local police officers made multiple arrests."

The arrested protesters may face charges including trespassing, malicious mischief, resisting arrest, and obstruction. Microsoft has announced an internal review to assess the use of its Azure platform in Israel, emphasizing its commitment to human rights standards and contractual terms of service. The company stated, "Microsoft is committed to its human rights standards and contractual terms of service, including in the Middle East. The company announced last week that it is pursuing a thorough and independent review of new allegations first reported earlier this month about the purported use of its Azure platform in Israel. Microsoft will continue to do the hard work needed to uphold its human rights standards in the Middle East, while supporting and taking clear steps to address unlawful actions that damage property, disrupt business or that threaten and harm others."

This incident follows previous protests by No Azure for Apartheid, including a temporary encampment at the Microsoft campus earlier this year, aiming to pressure the company to cease its contracts with the Israeli military. Microsoft has stated that its contracts with Israel's Ministry of Defense are standard commercial agreements governed by its terms of service and AI Code of Conduct.