Microsoft reportedly blocking emails containing terms like ‘Palestine,’ ‘Gaza,’ and ‘genocide’ has sparked employee backlash amid growing protests over the company’s contracts with the Israeli government.
Employee Group Raises Alarm Over Email Restrictions
The protest group No Azure for Apartheid (NOAA), made up of current and former Microsoft staff, says dozens of employees have experienced blocked emails when using specific keywords. They report that alternative spellings like “P4lestine” or using “Israel” do not trigger any restrictions. This pattern has raised concerns of targeted censorship and bias.
Microsoft told The Verge that it recently Microsoft reportedly blocking emails . Spokesperson Frank Shaw said the change aims to limit mass political messages unrelated to work. “It’s inappropriate to email large numbers of employees about unrelated topics,” he explained. Shaw added that the company has dedicated opt-in forums for political discussions.
The email issue surfaced just as protests intensified during Microsoft’s Build developer conference. On Monday, employee Joe Lopez interrupted CEO Satya Nadella’s keynote, accusing Microsoft of supporting “Israeli war crimes” through its Azure cloud services. Microsoft fired Lopez after he sent a mass email to thousands of coworkers.
More protests followed. A Palestinian tech worker disrupted a CoreAI session on Tuesday. Two former employees also interrupted a Build event on Wednesday. During one protest, a Microsoft executive accidentally revealed internal messages about Walmart’s use of AI tools.
Microsoft Defends Israel Contracts Amid Pressure
Microsoft continues to defend its cloud and AI contracts with the Israeli government. In a recent statement, the company said internal and external reviews found “no evidence” its tools were used to harm civilians in Gaza.
Still, critics argue that blocking certain words in internal communications shows a deeper problem. Many see it as a move to suppress pro-Palestinian voices in the tech industry. As pressure mounts, Microsoft must address questions about free expression and neutrality within its workplace.
