Microsoft blocks Israel’s use of its tech in mass surveillance of Palestinians • Hacker News Board

Re: Microsoft blocks Israel’s use of its tech in mass surveillance of Palestinians

#121

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Sep 25, 2025, 4:21 PM UTC

Etheryte wrote: post #48

codeulike wrote: post #7

“I want to note our appreciation for the reporting of the Guardian,” [Microsoft’s vice-chair and president, Brad Smith] wrote, noting that it had brought to light “information we could not access in light of our customer privacy commitments”. He added: “Our review is ongoing.” Its interesting that they seem to be saying they dont know the full details of how their customers are using Azure, due to privacy commitments…

The whole point of confidential computing is that the cloud provider can't access your data and can't tell what you're doing with it. This is a must have requirement in many government contracts and other highly legislated fields.

[deleted]

Re: Microsoft blocks Israel’s use of its tech in mass surveillance of Palestinians

#122

Post by n1b0m » Thu, Sep 25, 2025, 4:21 PM UTC

politelemon wrote: post #93

I am seeing several kneejerk "Microsoft bad" reactions here, which HNers don't do for many other companies. I encourage many of you to read what is written. They listened to their internal staff and stakeholders and public pressure, and did terminated the contract instead of ignoring it or doubling down. That is a good thing.

They fired staff who protested against the firm’s ties to the IDF.

Re: Microsoft blocks Israel’s use of its tech in mass surveillance of Palestinians

#123

Post by meowface » Thu, Sep 25, 2025, 4:21 PM UTC

sc68cal wrote: post #105

cl0ckt0wer wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If they act on information their employees report, they are violating their commitments.

There have been public reports by major news organizations on the subject of Israel using big tech companies to surveil the West Bank and Gaza, for a decade. This isn't an issue of customer privacy.

The difference is that pre-2023 it could at least have some plausible excuse of trying to detect terrorist activity. With Israel's current actions in Gaza, there is no longer any plausible excuse or defense for any security action Israel is conducting towards Palestinians.

Re: Microsoft blocks Israel’s use of its tech in mass surveillance of Palestinians

#124

Post by dotancohen » Thu, Sep 25, 2025, 4:22 PM UTC

ngcazz wrote: post #95

williamdclt wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know if it's _true_, but it seems right? I don't want Microsoft to have this level of visibility into my usage of Azure, just like I don't want my phone provider to eavesdrop on my conversations. I'm no privacy ayatollah, but this seems like a reasonable amount of privacy from Microsoft

Well, the average org isn't out there literally committing genocide

[flagged]

Re: Microsoft blocks Israel’s use of its tech in mass surveillance of Palestinians

#125

Post by serialNumber » Thu, Sep 25, 2025, 4:22 PM UTC

AlfredBarnes wrote: post #91

dh2022 wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wonder why IDC choose the Netherlands location. Microsoft has one Azure region in Israel itself: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/reliability/regions-...

Why build something near or semi near conflict?

Valid question, but just look at the huge amount of R&D / the tech companies in Israel. Even if it’s near conflict, I don’t think companies care

Re: Microsoft blocks Israel’s use of its tech in mass surveillance of Palestinians

#126

Post by skinkestek » Thu, Sep 25, 2025, 4:22 PM UTC

computerex wrote: post #43

mrits wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

The word genocide has a legal definition, it’s not up for discussion or debate. What is happening in Gaza is a genocide according to genocide scholars.

It shouldn't be.

But here we have UN and other twisting it to fit a situation that clearly weren't meant to be covered by it.

Because if the war in Gaza can be called a genocide so can almost every single other major war!

Also it is absolutely ridiculous to call a war that is started by one side, and one that only that side can end, a genocide against the same side that started it!

Re: Microsoft blocks Israel’s use of its tech in mass surveillance of Palestinians

#127

Post by dudeinjapan » Thu, Sep 25, 2025, 4:23 PM UTC

madaxe_again wrote: post #101

williamdclt wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know if it's _true_, but it seems right? I don't want Microsoft to have this level of visibility into my usage of Azure, just like I don't want my phone provider to eavesdrop on my conversations. I'm no privacy ayatollah, but this seems like a reasonable amount of privacy from Microsoft

Privacy ayatollah? Is that like an infosec shah?

Grand Mullah of GDPR Compliance

Re: Microsoft blocks Israel’s use of its tech in mass surveillance of Palestinians

#128

Post by computerex » Thu, Sep 25, 2025, 4:23 PM UTC

zeroonetwothree wrote: post #76

computerex wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The word genocide has a legal definition, it’s not up for discussion or debate. What is happening in Gaza is a genocide according to genocide scholars.

Legal definitions are often up for discussion and debate. That’s a large part of what lawyers do, in fact. Anyway I have no comment on the specific claim being made here, I just really dislike it when discussion is stifled by saying “I’m right and no one can ever disagree”.

That's like debating the definition of homicide or rape. There is no nuance here.

Re: Microsoft blocks Israel’s use of its tech in mass surveillance of Palestinians

#129

Post by vkou » Thu, Sep 25, 2025, 4:24 PM UTC

lupusreal wrote: post #111

sharpshadow wrote: post #70

It would be only just if the Palestinians would get their own state after this.

Right of return for all Palestinians and their descendants, worldwide.

Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves, here, that would have the stench of colonialism about it.

It's not their land to 'return to' - after all, people already live there and they have no moral right to displace them.

Re: Microsoft blocks Israel’s use of its tech in mass surveillance of Palestinians

#130

Post by serialNumber » Thu, Sep 25, 2025, 4:25 PM UTC

mrits wrote: post #92

computerex wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The word genocide has a legal definition, it’s not up for discussion or debate. What is happening in Gaza is a genocide according to genocide scholars.

This is a bit off topic but there isn't anything more debated in history than legal definitions. Maybe religious scripture? I don't think you could have raised a weaker point.

Also - many many institutions have declared that what’s happening is a genocide, and unfortunately that hasn’t changed anything. (Perhaps naive of me to believe that it would change anything)