Microsoft fires 4 employees after protest, break-in at president’s office

Microsoft made headlines this week after firing two additional employees in connection with a break-in at the office of Brad Smith, the company’s vice chair and president. This incident stemmed from a protest against Microsoft’s alleged ties to Israel. The terminations came after a group of individuals, including current and former employees from Microsoft, Google, and Oracle, broke into executive offices at Microsoft’s global headquarters in Redmond, Washington, demanding that the company cut ties with Israel.

The protesters, organized by an advocacy group called No Azure for Apartheid, were arrested by police during the sit-in. This protest was fueled by a report from The Guardian, which revealed that a unit of the Israeli military was using Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform to surveil Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. In response to these events, Microsoft took swift action by terminating the employees involved in the break-in and demonstrations on campus.

In a statement, a Microsoft spokesperson emphasized that such behavior was unacceptable and contradicted the company’s values and policies. The company is conducting an investigation into the incident and working with law enforcement to ensure the safety of all employees. During a press conference, Brad Smith announced that Microsoft had launched a formal investigation into Israel’s use of Azure to uphold human rights principles and contractual terms of service in the Middle East.

Protests against Microsoft over its alleged connection to the Israeli military have been ongoing for months, with previous arrests made at the company’s headquarters. The conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, which began in 2023, has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties on both sides. These tensions have spilled over into the tech industry, prompting scrutiny of companies like Microsoft for their involvement.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Mary Cunningham is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch. With experience at “60 Minutes,” CBSNews.com, and CBS News 24/7, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the business and finance vertical.