A group of current and former Microsoft employees briefly occupied part of the company’s Redmond campus yesterday to protest the relationship between the tech giant and Israel’s military. 

The protest was led by a group called No Azure for Apartheid. Their name refers to a cloud computing service that has been contracted for use by Israel’s government.

The demonstration follows recent reporting that Israel uses Azure as a mass surveillance tool against Palestinians, one that has shaped military operations in Gaza. 

Yesterday’s protest is the latest action taken by Microsoft employees in speaking out about the company’s business practices. 

Guest:

Todd Bishop, co-founder of GeekWire

Relevant Links:

Geekwire: Protesters set up temporary encampment at Microsoft to pressure company on Israel contracts

Geekwire: Microsoft launches formal review into alleged use of its Azure cloud in Palestinian surveillance

Geekwire: Inside the Microsoft protests: Fired engineer speaks out on Palestine, Israel, AI, and big tech

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

A group of current and former Microsoft employees briefly occupied part of the company&rsquo;s Redmond campus yesterday to protest the relationship between the tech giant and Israel&rsquo;s military.&nbsp;
The protest was led by a group called No Azure for Apartheid. Their name refers to a cloud computing service that has been contracted for use by Israel&rsquo;s government.
The demonstration follows recent reporting that Israel uses Azure as a mass surveillance tool against Palestinians, one that has shaped military operations in Gaza.&nbsp;
Yesterday&rsquo;s protest is the latest action taken by Microsoft employees in speaking out about the company&rsquo;s business practices.&nbsp;
Guest:
Todd Bishop, co-founder of GeekWire
Relevant Links:
Geekwire: <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/protesters-set-up-temporary-encampment-at-microsoft-hq-to-pressure-company-on-israel-contracts/">Protesters set up temporary encampment at Microsoft to pressure company on Israel contracts</a>
Geekwire: <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/microsoft-launches-formal-review-into-alleged-use-of-its-azure-cloud-in-palestinian-surveillance/">Microsoft launches formal review into alleged use of its Azure cloud in Palestinian surveillance</a>
Geekwire:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/inside-the-microsoft-protests-fired-engineer-on-palestine-israel-ai-and-big-tech/">Inside the Microsoft protests: Fired engineer speaks out on Palestine, Israel, AI, and big tech</a>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

A group of current and former Microsoft employees briefly occupied part of the company’s Redmond campus yesterday to protest the relationship between the tech giant and Israel’s military. 

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