Microsoft Terminates Employee For Protesting At Work During 50th Anniversary Celebration

Microsoft has fired two employees who interrupted the company's 50th-anniversary event to protest its work supplying AI technology to the Israeli military, according to reports.

The protest occurred during Microsoft's 50th-anniversary event, which was meant to celebrate the company's milestone achievement. However, the event took an unexpected turn when two employees stood up and voiced their concerns about Microsoft's contract with the Israeli military.

Ibtihal Aboussad, who has urged the company to axe the Israeli government as a customer, interrupted a speech by Microsoft consumer artificial intelligence chief Mustafa Suleyman on Friday. Later, Vaniya Agrawal disrupted a question-and-answer session featuring Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella and his two predecessors, Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer.

According to reports, the company informed Aboussad that her employment had been terminated due to “acts of misconduct.” On the other hand, Agrawal had pledged to resign effective April 11, but Microsoft told her on Monday that it had accepted her resignation effective immediately.

The controversy surrounding Microsoft's contract with the Israeli military has sparked a heated debate about the company's involvement in the conflict. Some employees have expressed their concerns about the company's role in providing AI technology to the military, citing potential human rights abuses.

However, the company has yet to make a comment on any event. So, till then, we have to wait for an official statement.