Open Letter to Microsoft

Dear Mr. Nadella

I learned with shock and dismay about the recent departure of Microsoft Israel’s general manager, Alon Haimovich. Apparently, he resigned due to an investigation of its business dealings with the Israeli military.

Let me introduce myself. I have been a software consultant for over 40 years and have worked exclusively with, and recommended to my clients, only Microsoft tools; like compilers, Office products, Dynamics, and Azure. I am a Microsoft partner. A few years ago, I recommended to one of my clients to avoid Amazon Web Services and to use Microsoft Azure because of the Amazon employees’ history of encouraging boycotts of Israel.

I attended almost every PDC, Build and TechEd from 1993 until COVID. I always looked forward to hearing Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer and then you do deliver the keynote addresses. I always admired you for your empathy and inspiration.

I am also a victim of Arab terror. In 1970 I was hijacked by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and held hostage for a week in the Jordanian desert. That makes me very sensitive and wary of terrorism and those who support and encourage it.

The investigation that Microsoft triggered was apparently because the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) used Microsoft’s Azure Cloud Services to store a trove of security related data in Azure Cloud. This is allegedly a violation of Microsoft’s code of ethics. It was also reported that the results of this investigation were inconclusive.

I asked Microsoft’ AI tool, CoPilot, to summarize the Microsoft Code of Ethics. This is the reply:

Microsoft’s Code of Ethics, known as the Standards of Business Conduct, requires employees to act with integrity, honesty, and accountability while following all laws and company policies. It emphasizes building trust with customers, partners, and the public by treating people with respect, promoting diversity and inclusion, protecting privacy and data, and competing fairly without corruption or conflicts of interest. Employees are expected to put customers first, safeguard company resources, report unethical behavior, and make transparent, responsible decisions that uphold Microsoft’s values and reputation.

When asked specifically if code of ethics says anything about prohibiting the use of its technology to facilitate mass surveillance, CoPilot answered:

Microsoft’s Standards of Business Conduct (Trust Code) focuses on broad principles like:

• • • protecting privacy
    • respecting human rights
    • using technology responsibly
    • building trust

However, it does not specifically mention “mass surveillance” by name.

Microsoft does address mass surveillance in related policies and rules, especially:

1. 1. Terms of service / acceptable use

• • • Microsoft states that using its technology for “broad or mass surveillance of civilians” would violate its terms

1. 2. Public policy statements

• • • Company leadership has explicitly said:

“We do not provide technology to facilitate mass surveillance of civilians.”

1. 3. Human rights commitments

• • • Microsoft commits to ensuring technology respects human rights and human dignity

1. 4. AI and Responsible Use policies

• • • Microsoft’s AI rules prohibit harmful uses, including unlawful surveillance or harmful data practices

So, at most, Microsoft’s terms of service restrict its use to violate civilian’s rights.

Microsoft claims it is committed to ensuring technology respects human rights and human dignity.

In case you need reminding, on October 7^th Hamas crossed the border and raped, murdered and mutilated over 1200 Israeli citizens and foreigners. They kidnaped over 250 Israelis and foreigners. This included men, women and children, including aged holocaust survivors and infants. These hostages were held in underground tunnels for over two years. At least those that were not murdered.

This event triggered horrible memories of what I experienced as a hostage held by these vile terrorists. I would not wish this experience on anyone and would do all in the power to prevent it from happening again.

So, what was the Azure cloud used for? The IDF used Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform to store a vast trove of intercepted calls from Gaza and the West Bank. Why were these calls stored? They were stored to analyze the calls for terrorist content. The calls were scrutinized to see if the locations of any of the hostages help, contrary to their human rights, could be found. The calls were scrutinized to see if additional terrorist plans like the one executed on October 7^th were in the execution, pre-execution or planning stages. These plans were and would be considered violations of human rights. Thus, the IDF was using these services to preserve human dignity and human rights.

And is Microsoft sure that Hamas did not use any Azure or Microsoft 365 features to plan these atrocities? If those aren’t violations of human rights, what are? Did Microsoft even bother to check and verify? Did they even ask the question?

Is Microsoft investigating Iran’s use of Microsoft tools? Russian or Ukraine? Or is this investigation only of Israel?

Again, according to CoPilot:

There is no public evidence that Microsoft is currently conducting specific investigations into Iran, Russia, or Ukraine for misuse of Azure related to human rights, similar to what it did in the Israel case.

When asked about Hamas and Hezbollah, CoPilot replied:

No — there is no publicly available evidence that Microsoft is currently investigating Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, Russia, or Ukraine as specific customers misusing Azure for human‑rights violations.

You would think that using Azure and Microsoft tools for these purposes and preventing additional terrorism and massacres, thus preserving human rights and dignity, Microsoft would totally support and encourage the use of its tools.

But no, Microsoft was critical and questioned the “legality” of the use of its tools only by Israel in their attempt to protect the lives and safety of its citizens.

Is it Microsoft’s opinion that even in attempting to protect its citizens, Israel is the only offender of human rights.

To me, this smacks of antisemitism.

I am so disappointed and heartbroken.

Shame on you Satya Nadella and Microsoft.

Sincerely

Moshe Raab, PhD