Microsoft Build 2025 Disrupted by Pro-Palestinian Protests Over Israeli Military Contracts

Employee Interrupts CEO Satya Nadella’s Keynote

On May 19, 2025, during Microsoft’s flagship developer conference, Build 2025, held in Seattle, CEO Satya Nadella’s keynote address was interrupted by a protester. Joe Lopez, a firmware engineer from Microsoft’s Azure hardware systems team, stood up and shouted, “How about you show how Microsoft is killing Palestinians? How about you show how Israeli war crimes are powered by Azure?” before being escorted out by security personnel. This incident was part of a series of protests organized by the group ‘No Azure for Apartheid,’ which opposes Microsoft’s cloud and AI contracts with the Israeli government. Source

Second Day of Protests Targets Executive Jay Parikh

The following day, on May 20, 2025, Microsoft’s Executive Vice President of CoreAI, Jay Parikh, faced a similar disruption during his speech at the conference. A Palestinian tech worker interrupted Parikh, shouting, “Free, Free Palestine” and “Jay! My people…” before being removed by security. This marked the second consecutive day of pro-Palestinian protests at the event, highlighting growing concerns among some developers and tech workers regarding the company’s role or stance in global political issues, particularly the Israel-Palestine conflict. Source

Microsoft’s Response and Internal Investigations

In response to the protests, Microsoft stated that its technologies have not been used to harm individuals in the region. The company conducted internal and third-party investigations, concluding that there was no evidence that its Azure and AI technologies, or any of its other software, have been used to harm people or that the Israeli Ministry of Defense has failed to comply with Microsoft’s terms of service or AI Code of Conduct. However, the company admitted limited visibility into how its technologies are used on customers’ own servers. Source

Broader Implications and Public Discourse

The protests at Microsoft Build 2025 have sparked broader discussions about the role of technology companies in global conflicts and the ethical implications of their business partnerships. Activists and some employees argue that by providing technology to the Israeli military, Microsoft becomes complicit in actions against Palestinians. The group ‘No Azure for Apartheid’ continues to advocate for the termination of Microsoft’s contracts with the Israeli government, emphasizing the need for corporate accountability in international affairs. Source