In a controversial and alarming move, Microsoft has reportedly blocked internal and external emails that contain politically sensitive terms such as “Palestine,” “Gaza,” and “genocide.”
According to a report by American tech publication The Verge on Thursday, Microsoft employees discovered that some of their emails were mysteriously not reaching recipients. Upon review, it became clear that the company had implemented filters preventing emails with specific pro-Palestinian keywords from being sent or delivered.
Censorship Disguised as “Policy Control”
Microsoft later confirmed that the decision was part of a broader effort to “limit political emails” within the company, framing the action as a measure to reduce workplace tension. However, critics see it as a blatant form of corporate censorship, especially during a time when mass atrocities are being committed in Gaza, and global calls for justice are mounting.
This comes just days after Microsoft publicly admitted—for the first time—that it had hired a third-party firm to investigate whether the Israeli military has been using its cloud and AI services to harm civilians in Gaza.
The AI Dilemma: Ethics or Excuses?
Following months of internal pressure and external protest, Microsoft was forced to respond to revelations published by The Guardian, which exposed the company’s ties to Israeli security officials. In its official statement, the tech giant claimed:
“We found no evidence that Microsoft Azure or AI technologies were used to harm civilians in the Gaza conflict.”
The company said its investigation included interviews with dozens of employees and a review of internal documents. However, it refused to name the external firm that conducted the inquiry.
Emergency Assistance to Israel Confirmed
For the first time, Microsoft admitted it had provided “emergency assistance” to the Israeli government following the events of October 7, 2023—purportedly to help with “technological efforts to rescue hostages.”
The company insisted the support was under strict supervision and that each request was reviewed individually, with some approved and others rejected. Microsoft stated that the assistance was provided in a manner that “respected the privacy and rights of Gaza’s citizens.”
However, it also acknowledged that the Israeli Ministry of Defense already receives professional services from Microsoft, including software, cloud services, and artificial intelligence, under what the company called a “standard commercial relationship.”
“No Control After Purchase”
Perhaps most revealing was Microsoft’s admission that it cannot monitor how its technologies are ultimately used:
“Militaries typically operate with custom-developed systems… We cannot fully know how our tools are used on private servers or in local environments.”
This means that once software and systems are sold, Microsoft effectively washes its hands of responsibility—even if those tools are used in war zones or to facilitate occupation and violence.
“No to Azure for Apartheid”
In response, the growing campaign titled “No Azure for Apartheid”—led by current and former Microsoft employees—has accused the company of complicity in Israeli war crimes.
One of the leading voices, activist Hussam Nasr, criticised the tech giant’s statement, saying:
“It’s full of contradictions and lies. Microsoft didn’t even mention the word ‘Palestinians’ once.”
Editorial View
Microsoft’s attempt to position itself as “neutral” while actively filtering out solidarity with Palestine, enabling digital infrastructure for an apartheid regime, and distancing itself from ethical accountability is not neutrality—it’s complicity.
By blocking terms like “Gaza” and “genocide,” the company joins a growing list of Western tech firms that silence the victims while arming the aggressors.
If technology is to serve humanity, it cannot be selectively blind.
