Microsoft has reportedly asked the FBI and local police to help track and contain a wave of Gaza-related protests by its own employees — who over the weekend showed up on kayaks in front of the lakeside homes of the tech giant’s top executives.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators took to Lake Washington on Sunday, circling near the waterfront mansions of CEO Satya Nadella and President Brad Smith with banners and chants accusing Microsoft of profiting from Israel’s war in Gaza, according to Bloomberg News.
The dramatic scene was the latest in the growing revolt inside the world’s largest software maker, where a group of workers calling itself “No Azure for Apartheid” has spent nearly a year demanding the company cut ties with Israel’s military.
They argue Microsoft’s Azure cloud service is helping fuel war crimes. Instead of bowing to pressure, the company turned to law enforcement.
Internal emails reviewed by Bloomberg show Microsoft investigators contacted the FBI’s Seattle office, flagging employees and even relatives linked to protests while warning that demonstrations could disrupt major events.
“One of our former employees in particular, Hossam Nasr, has been quite active in his posts targeting Microsoft and that we are complicit in genocide,” a director of investigations told the bureau.
Nasr, a software engineer who remains active with “No Azure for Apartheid,” and another colleague were reportedly fired by Microsoft in October of last year for organizing a lunchtime vigil and fundraiser for Palestinians in Gaza at company headquarters in Redmond, Wash.
When reached by Bloomberg, the FBI declined to discuss its dealings with Microsoft but said it focuses on criminal threats while respecting free speech.
In preparation for its Build conference, Microsoft coordinated with city officials to restrict access to public areas, add airport-style checkpoints and bar activist insignia.
Those moves followed a string of high-profile disruptions.
In April, engineer Ibtihal Aboussad hurled a Palestinian keffiyeh onto the stage during a keynote speech by AI chief Mustafa Suleyman.
Hours later, colleague Vaniya Agrawal interrupted a panel featuring Nadella, Gates and Ballmer. Both resigned in protest.
Weeks later, engineer Joe Lopez jumped on a chair during Nadella’s remarks, accusing him of “perpetuating war crimes.” He was fired that night.
And last week, police zip-tied and hauled off 20 protesters after they formed a “liberated zone” on a Redmond plaza and chanted executives’ names.
Smith defended the crackdown.
“To have them engaging in vandalism and destructive behavior obviously makes clear that this aspect of the issue is no longer about dialogue with employees,” Smith told Bloomberg.
“It’s a matter for law enforcement, and that’s how we’re treating it.”
For Microsoft — which has largely avoided the scandals dogging its Big Tech peers — the controversy thrusts it into the center of one of the most polarizing issues in global politics.
The company insists it isn’t complicit in Israel’s war effort.
A prior internal probe found no evidence its cloud tools were used to harm civilians, though Microsoft is now investigating fresh reports that Israeli intelligence intercepted Palestinian calls and stored them on Microsoft servers.
Inside the company, dissent continues. Employees say posts mentioning Gaza have been deleted and protest emails blocked.
Organizers estimate about 200 current and former staffers quietly back their cause — a small share of Microsoft’s 200,000-strong workforce, but enough to keep the pressure on.
“This isn’t just Microsoft Word with a little Clippy in the corner,” Agrawal said. “These are technological weapons. Cloud and AI are just as deadly as bombs and bullets.”
For now, the revolt shows no sign of slowing. Protesters say the FBI’s involvement and firings will not silence them.
As Nasr, the Egyptian-born engineer Microsoft flagged to the feds, declared after a Redmond rally: “This isn’t the end.”
“No Azure for Apartheid is a campaign that will be steadfast in our determination to end Microsoft’s role in the genocide of Palestinians. We are unfazed by scare tactics,” the group said in a statement to The Post.
“The fact Microsoft is attempting to use law enforcement as a means of suppressing its own workforce who stand in opposition against genocide should be a wakeup call to all people who seek to organize in their workplace.”
The group added that “this news demonstrates Microsoft is feeling the pressure from its workers, the public and of the worldwide boycotts.”
The Post has sought comment from Microsoft, Nasr, the FBI and “No Azure for Apartheid.”
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