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Microsoft launches investigation into Israeli military surveillance agency's use of its cloud platform [1]
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Date: 2025-08-11
The review follows reports that the agency was using Microsoft Azure to store audio files from millions of phone calls made by Palestinians and had even been used to coordinate military attacks on Palestinians.
Microsoft has launched an investigation into how Israel's military surveillance agency, Unit 8200, is using its cloud platform.
As reported by The Guardian, which also conducted the initial investigation into Unit 8200 and Microsoft's relationship alongside publications +972 Magazine and Local Call, senior executives at Microsoft are now trying to assess how Unit 8200 has used its platform and whether local staff may have concealed details.
The company has not yet launched a formal review of the kind it conducted earlier this year, which concluded that there was “no evidence to date” that Azure had been “used to target or harm people” in Gaza, but sources told the Guardian that an internal review is being conducted.
A Microsoft spokesperson said that the company "takes these allegations seriously, as shown by our previous independent investigation. As we receive new information, we’re committed to making sure we have a chance to validate any new data and take any needed action.”
Following initial reports of Unit 8200's use of Microsoft Azure, the cloud giant said: “At no time during this engagement has Microsoft been aware of the surveillance of civilians or collection of their cellphone conversations using Microsoft’s services, including through the external review it commissioned.”
Among the accusations levied against Microsoft is that the platform had facilitated Unit 8200 and the Israeli military in the preparation of deadly airstrikes - including the identification of bombing targets - and "shaped" military operations in Gaza and the West Bank.
Additionally, Microsoft engineers reportedly developed enhanced layers of security for the servers to be used by Unit 8200, of which, according to the files accessed by the Guardian, around 11,500 terabytes are hosted in Microsoft data centers in the Netherlands, and a smaller proportion in Ireland. Some of this may belong to other Israeli military units.
Protest on the roof
Amidst the internal review, the Guardian has also reported that protests were staged on the roof of a Microsoft data center in the Netherlands.
The group behind the protest was Geef Tegengas (Push Back), which explicitly stated that its demonstration was in response to the Unit 8200 investigation.
The activists said in a statement that they were “calling on all employees of the data center to lay down their work until all Israeli intelligence has been removed from the servers.”
The data center in question is located on a 14-hectare campus near Middenmeer in the North Holland province.
Dutch foreign minister Caspar said regarding the allegations: "If there are serious indications of criminal offences in that information, legal proceedings can of course be initiated, and that is then up to the public prosecution service.”
DCD has contacted Microsoft for comment.
Update - A Microsoft spokesperson said regarding the protest: "We respect the right to peaceful assembly. We have reported a trespassing incident at one of our facilities to the police. Our security teams in collaboration with law enforcement are now investigating. There wasn't any disruption to our services."
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[1] Url:
https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/microsoft-launches-investigation-into-israeli-military-surveillance-agencys-use-of-its-cloud-platform/
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