In a major internal controversy for Microsoft, a senior software engineer has resigned in protest against the company’s ongoing business ties with the Israeli military, igniting fresh debate over corporate ethics and employee dissent.
Scott Sutfin-Glowski, a Principal Software Engineer who spent 13 years at Microsoft, submitted his resignation on Thursday via a mass email sent to thousands of employees, criticizing the company for continuing to support cloud service contracts with Israel’s defense establishment.
In his email, Sutfin-Glowski wrote, “I can no longer accept enabling what may be the worst atrocities of our time,” explaining that he chose resignation over “silent complicity.”
Background: Cloud Services Under Scrutiny
The controversy traces back to The Guardian’s August 2024 report, which alleged that Israel Defense Forces’ Unit 8200—the military’s elite cyber-intelligence division—used Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform to process and monitor vast amounts of communications data in Gaza and the West Bank.
Following internal investigations, Microsoft announced in September that it had halted specific Azure and AI services to Unit 8200. However, the move did not extend to the broader network of Israeli military clients. According to an Associated Press report in February, Israel’s defense sector maintains at least 635 active Microsoft subscriptions.
Employee Unrest and Corporate Response
Sutfin-Glowski’s resignation comes amid a growing employee protest movement called “No Azure for Apartheid,” which has repeatedly urged Microsoft to sever all military contracts with Israel.
Over 1,500 Microsoft employees have signed internal petitions calling for the company to endorse a ceasefire and conduct a full audit of defense-related partnerships.
Tensions peaked earlier this year when Microsoft terminated five employees—including four who occupied President Brad Smith’s office during a Gaza protest. In an internal address, Smith defended the decision, stating:
“Anybody smart enough to get a job at Microsoft is smart enough to know you don’t break into offices and keep your job.”
Activists have since accused the company of cracking down on dissent by dismantling internal forums where employees once raised ethical concerns about the use of Microsoft’s technology.
Protests Escalate at Microsoft HQ
On Thursday, protesters gathered outside Microsoft’s Redmond headquarters, displaying banners reading “WE CALL BULLSHIT. CUT ALL TIES WITH ISRAEL NOW” and “MICROSOFT BUILD KILLS,” featuring imagery of warplanes emerging from the Azure cloud logo.
While Microsoft confirmed limited service cuts to Israel’s intelligence units, activists argue that these steps are “symbolic” and fail to address the larger ethical implications of continuing contracts with Israel’s defense forces.
An Israeli security official told CNN that the restrictions caused “no damage to operational capabilities”, as surveillance systems were swiftly migrated to Amazon Web Services (AWS).
A Divided Workplace
Sutfin-Glowski’s resignation has amplified internal divisions within Microsoft. While leadership insists the company is acting responsibly, many employees view the continued defense contracts as moral hypocrisy given Microsoft’s public commitments to “AI ethics” and human rights principles.
As the Gaza ceasefire takes effect after two years of conflict, the debate inside Microsoft underscores a larger reckoning in Silicon Valley — where workers are increasingly questioning whether technological innovation should come at the cost of human lives.
Originally published on newsworldstime.com.
Originally published on 24×7-news.com.
