Beta Edition

Friday, 29 Aug 2025

Microsoft fires engineers over protesting AI supply to Israeli military

News Desk
Published: Tuesday, April 8, 2025 08:21 PM
Microsoft fires engineers over protesting AI supply to Israeli military

US tech giant Microsoft has fired two software engineers who protested the company’s AI technology supply to the Israeli military.

Ibtihal Aboussad, a software engineer in Microsoft's AI division, was fired on Monday for "willful misconduct, disobedience, or neglect of duty."

Vaniya Agrawal, another engineer, had planned to resign on April 11, but the company made her resignation effective immediately on Monday, according to CNBC.

The protests began Friday when Aboussad, during the company's 50th-anniversary event, interrupted AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman’s presentation, shouting that he had "blood on his hands" and accusing Microsoft of enabling the Israeli military with AI weapons, saying: "50,000 people have died, and Microsoft powers this genocide in our region."

Later, Agrawal disrupted a separate panel featuring CEO Satya Nadella, former CEO Steve Ballmer, and founder Bill Gates, shouting: "Shame on all of you. … Cut ties with Israel."

Following the protests, Aboussad emailed Microsoft staff and executives, alleging that the company had suppressed dissent among employees. The email included a link to a petition from "No Azure for Apartheid," a group of Microsoft employees who have previously protested the company’s ties to Israel.

Microsoft responded to Aboussad’s email, saying that they acknowledged his "misconduct" and asserting that the "immediate cessation" of his employment "is the only appropriate response."

Agrawal similarly expressed her concerns in an email, criticizing Microsoft’s involvement in the military-industrial complex and labeling the company "complicit" in supporting surveillance, apartheid, and genocide.

A Microsoft spokesperson said on Friday: “We provide many avenues for all voices to be heard. Importantly, we ask that this be done in a way that does not cause business disruption. If that happens, we ask participants to relocate.”

The Israeli military employs AI to analyze intelligence, intercept communications and surveillance data for signs of suspicious behavior and track enemy movements.

Over 50,700 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in a brutal Israeli onslaught since October 2023, most of them women and children. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

HN/Anadolu/MM/AU

US blocks Palestinian officials from attending UNGA as countries prepare to recognize Palestine

US blocks Palestinian officials from attending UNGA as countries prepare to recognize Palestine

Janata Bank Asset-Liability Management Committee Meeting Held

Janata Bank Asset-Liability Management Committee Meeting Held

BUET students hold torchlight procession to protest police attack

BUET students hold torchlight procession to protest police attack

Israeli army declares Gaza City ‘dangerous combat zone’

Israeli army declares Gaza City ‘dangerous combat zone’

No one can be considered a foreigner just for speaking Bengali, says Supreme Court of India

No one can be considered a foreigner just for speaking Bengali, says Supreme Court of India

Thai court orders dismissal of Prime Minister Phatthana Shinawatra

Thai court orders dismissal of Prime Minister Phatthana Shinawatra

Former minister Latif Siddiqui detained

Former minister Latif Siddiqui detained

Complete shutdown underway at all engineering universities, including BUET

Complete shutdown underway at all engineering universities, including BUET

Premier Bank reports first 'no dividend' after listing, losses

Premier Bank reports first 'no dividend' after listing, losses

India could receive 25% tariff reduction 'tomorrow' if it stops buying Russian oil: Senior US official

India could receive 25% tariff reduction 'tomorrow' if it stops buying Russian oil: Senior US official

শিক্ষার্থীদের ওপর লাঠিচার্জের বিচার চাইলেন বুয়েটের ভিসি

শিক্ষার্থীদের ওপর লাঠিচার্জের বিচার চাইলেন বুয়েটের ভিসি

দাবি পূরণ না হওয়াই আন্দোলন চালিয়ে যাবেন প্রকৌশল শিক্ষার্থী

দাবি পূরণ না হওয়াই আন্দোলন চালিয়ে যাবেন প্রকৌশল শিক্ষার্থী

Argentina’s president pelted with stones while campaigning

Argentina’s president pelted with stones while campaigning

Search continues for two boaters missing after canoe capsized on Upper Kananaskis Lake

Search continues for two boaters missing after canoe capsized on Upper Kananaskis Lake

South Korea, US conduct joint maritime infiltration drills

South Korea, US conduct joint maritime infiltration drills

Palestinian journalists killed in Israeli attacks commemorated in London

Palestinian journalists killed in Israeli attacks commemorated in London

2 children, assailant dead after shooting at Minnesota church

2 children, assailant dead after shooting at Minnesota church

Final roadmap for national elections to be announced today

Final roadmap for national elections to be announced today

Nagad to go to private sector: Governor

Nagad to go to private sector: Governor

Election roadmap may be announced on Thursday

Election roadmap may be announced on Thursday

Bangladeshi Protest in Front of the Indian Embassy in Canada

Bangladeshi Protest in Front of the Indian Embassy in Canada

SpaceX's Starship rocket completes 5th test flight, returning booster on land

SpaceX's Starship rocket completes 5th test flight, returning booster on land

ফুরোলো অপেক্ষা, পরিবারের কাছে ফিরলেন নাবিকরা

ফুরোলো অপেক্ষা, পরিবারের কাছে ফিরলেন নাবিকরা

Flight operations from Bangladesh to various destinations in India are disrupted due to lack of passengers

Flight operations from Bangladesh to various destinations in India are disrupted due to lack of passengers

When and where will cyclone 'Dana' hit?

When and where will cyclone 'Dana' hit?

ফুটবল ইতিহাসে সবচেয়ে বেশি ট্রফি এখন মেসির

ফুটবল ইতিহাসে সবচেয়ে বেশি ট্রফি এখন মেসির

প্রার্থীদের বহিষ্কার বিএনপির ভুল সিদ্ধান্ত নাকি কৌশল?

প্রার্থীদের বহিষ্কার বিএনপির ভুল সিদ্ধান্ত নাকি কৌশল?

Gas tanker explosion kills more than 140 people in Nigeria

Gas tanker explosion kills more than 140 people in Nigeria

পাঁচ দশকে ডলারের দাম বেড়েছে ১৫১৬ শতাংশ

পাঁচ দশকে ডলারের দাম বেড়েছে ১৫১৬ শতাংশ

Elon Musk's xAI seeks AI tutors with good offer

Elon Musk's xAI seeks AI tutors with good offer

বদলে যাচ্ছে মহাখালী বাস টার্মিনাল এলাকার চিত্র

বদলে যাচ্ছে মহাখালী বাস টার্মিনাল এলাকার চিত্র

জনপ্রিয়তার তুঙ্গে ‘প্যালেস্টাইন কোলা’

জনপ্রিয়তার তুঙ্গে ‘প্যালেস্টাইন কোলা’

ই-বর্জ্য ব্যবস্থাপনা ব্যবস্থা উন্নত করতে কাজ করছে সরকার: পরিবেশমন্ত্রী

ই-বর্জ্য ব্যবস্থাপনা ব্যবস্থা উন্নত করতে কাজ করছে সরকার: পরিবেশমন্ত্রী

কালশী পুলিশ বক্সে আগুন দিয়েছে অটোরিকশা চালকরা

কালশী পুলিশ বক্সে আগুন দিয়েছে অটোরিকশা চালকরা

চোটগ্রস্ত তাসকিন কেন সহ-অধিনায়ক, জানালেন লিপু

চোটগ্রস্ত তাসকিন কেন সহ-অধিনায়ক, জানালেন লিপু

এভাবে প্রশ্ন করবেন না, খোঁচাবেন না: কাদের

এভাবে প্রশ্ন করবেন না, খোঁচাবেন না: কাদের

“Our family almost became lifeless after my son’s death”: martyr Sajjad’s mother

“Our family almost became lifeless after my son’s death”: martyr Sajjad’s mother

Where can the cyclone 'Dana' run more rampage?

Where can the cyclone 'Dana' run more rampage?

কানাডার হাইকমিশনারের পদত্যাগে স্মারকলিপি

কানাডার হাইকমিশনারের পদত্যাগে স্মারকলিপি

3 people in the world do not need a passport

3 people in the world do not need a passport

Todays All

Office: 1545, Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa, ON K1G 3PG, CANADA
Bangladesh Office : House- 15, Road- 05, Sector- 09, Uttara, Dhaka