Microsoft fires two engineers for protesting AI work with Israeli military, sparking ethical concerns

From Nasdaq: 2025-04-08 18:05:00

Microsoft has fired two engineers for protesting the company’s AI work with the Israeli military. Ibtihal Aboussad and Vaniya Agrawal were dismissed for disruption and misconduct. Aboussad accused Microsoft of enabling “genocide” in Gaza, while Agrawal accused the company of complicity in surveillance and genocide.

The protests were prompted by a report revealing that Microsoft and OpenAI’s tools were used by the Israeli military in targeting airstrikes, resulting in civilian casualties. Microsoft defended its actions, stating it provides avenues for employees to voice concerns but must not disrupt operations.

The firings highlight growing tensions within tech companies over ethical concerns related to AI and global defense contracts. Similar controversies have occurred at Google, where staff walkouts over military AI projects led to mass terminations. Employee resistance in the tech industry is on the rise.



Read more at Nasdaq: Microsoft Fires Two Engineers After High-Profile Protests Over Israeli Military AI Contracts