The investigation was sparked by a story in The Guardian that reported that Unit 8200, the elite Israel military intelligence unit, was using Azure cloud storage to house data on phone calls obtained through the surveillance of Palestinians in Gaza and ... https://t.co/3D0QZccuO2 ...

Core Points - Microsoft has terminated access to certain technologies and services for the Israel Ministry of Defense after discovering that its technology was being used for surveillance on Palestinians [1][3] - The decision was influenced by an internal investigation initiated in August, following a report by The Guardian regarding the use of Azure cloud storage by Israel's military intelligence unit [3][6] - Microsoft emphasizes its long-standing policy against providing technology for mass surveillance of civilians, a principle it has upheld globally for over two decades [2][4] Group 1 - Microsoft has ceased and disabled specific subscriptions related to Azure cloud storage and AI services for the Israeli military [1] - The investigation was prompted by reports that Unit 8200 was using Microsoft’s technology to store surveillance data on phone calls of Palestinians [3] - Microsoft acknowledged the role of The Guardian's reporting in prompting the investigation, highlighting the company's commitment to customer privacy [4] Group 2 - The ongoing review of Microsoft's relationship with Israel has faced criticism from both employees and external parties, leading to protests and employee activism [6][7] - Microsoft has taken action against employees who have protested or engaged in activism regarding the company's contracts with Israel [7]