Microsoft Fires Israeli Managers Over EU Surveillance Scrutiny
Microsoft has removed Alon Haimovich, the general manager of its Israeli subsidiary, along with other managers, following an internal investigation sparked by a report on Israel’s use of Microsoft Azure cloud services for storing intercepted data from the occupied West Bank. The investigation was initiated due to concerns that the Israeli subsidiary’s practices could expose Microsoft to legal liability in Europe, as the Azure servers involved were located there, potentially drawing scrutiny from EU regulators. This action comes amid heightened public scrutiny of Microsoft’s business with the Israeli government, particularly concerning the use of Azure for surveillance in Gaza and the West Bank.
John Q. Hosedrinker