Microsoft blocks Israel’s Unit 8200 from Azure over alleged mass surveillance of Palestinians
According to multiple reports, Microsoft has revoked and disabled certain Azure services used by an Israeli military intelligence unit (reported as Unit 8200) after discovering the unit had stored a large cache of intercepted Palestinian civilian phone calls on Microsoft’s cloud.
Microsoft vice-chair Brad Smith said the company had “ceased and disabled a set of services to a unit within the Israel ministry of defense,” adding: “We do not provide technology to facilitate mass surveillance of civilians.” Microsoft said the move followed an external inquiry into the agency’s use of Azure and came amid pressure from employees and investors.
Key points
- Reports say millions of Palestinian calls from Gaza and the West Bank were collected and stored via Azure.
- The program reportedly dates back to 2021 and involved a segregated Azure environment; leaks say the mantra was to record “a million calls an hour.”
- Microsoft claims the spy agency violated its terms of service; the company cut access to cloud storage and some AI services.
- There are reports Unit 8200 considered moving the data to Amazon Web Services after Microsoft started investigating.
Sources & further reading
- Arab News — Microsoft launches investigation, revokes access
- India Today — Timeline and report on Satya Nadella meeting in 2021
- Irish Examiner — Summary report on the Microsoft action
- Original reporting referenced in many outlets: The Guardian (reporting on alleged use of Microsoft cloud for Israeli surveillance).
Questions & implications
This decision raises broader questions about corporate responsibility, the role of cloud providers in human-rights-sensitive contexts, and whether tech companies should proactively refuse services if governments appear to use them for mass surveillance. How should cloud providers balance legal requests, government relationships, and human-rights concerns?
Note: For updates, consult the linked news sources above.