Microsoft terminated two staff members after they staged an audacious protest at the company’s Redmond headquarters during its 50th anniversary celebration. Software engineers Ibtihal Aboussad and Vaniya Agrawal interrupted speeches at the event to expose Microsoft’s ties with the Israeli military.
During the event Aboussad approached AI chief Mustafa Suleyman to condemn Microsoft’s unethical AI practices while revealing the company’s technology connection to Gaza military operations. “Mustafa, shame on you,” she shouted. Suleyman maintained a composed tone when he thanked the protester before expressing his hearing of her concerns. Agrawal interrupted a meeting that included CEO Satya Nadella together with Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer.
Security personnel took both employees out of the venue. The company fired Aboussad for misconduct after declaring her protest actions as “hostile, unprovoked and highly inappropriate.” Microsoft accelerated the termination process of Agrawal even though she had planned to leave by April 11 thus ending her employment immediately.
The two employees belonged to No Azure for Apartheid which opposes Microsoft’s Israeli ties during the Gaza conflict. Both employees lost their access to company systems following the protest.
The termination of two Microsoft employees for political dissent has generated widespread discussion about tech ethics and workplace activism and corporate accountability.
