Archive · 8 Aug 2025
Microsoft's Cloud Allegedly Used for Israeli Surveillance, Bombing
Imagine a big computer system that listens to phone calls and reads texts.
Israel uses Microsoft's computer cloud to do this to Palestinians.
They use this information to look for people they think are dangerous and sometimes even to decide where to drop bombs.
This system stores everything, so they can check old conversations.
Microsoft says they didn't know their technology was being used this way, but some people say it's helping to hurt innocent people.
The system helps the Israeli military decide who to arrest and even where to bomb, based on what Palestinians say and do.
Microsoft's Azure cloud is used by Israel's Unit 8200 to store and analyze Palestinian communications.
An AI tool developed by Unit 8200 uses intercepted data to identify potential targets and justify detentions.
The system, initiated in 2021, stores all Palestinian phone calls, allowing retroactive examination.
Microsoft claims it found no evidence of its systems being used to harm civilians, despite evidence to the contrary.
Sources within Unit 8200 claim the Azure-based system directly assists in preparing airstrikes in Gaza.
- Who
- Israel's Unit 8200 and Microsoft
- What
- Unit 8200 uses Microsoft's Azure cloud to store and analyze Palestinian communications.
- When
- The system began taking shape in 2021.
- Where
- Gaza and the West Bank
- Why
- To monitor Palestinians, identify potential targets, and assist in airstrikes.
Allegations
Denials
Use of Technology
Allegations
Microsoft's technology is being used by Unit 8200 to store data, analyze it, and potentially identify targets for airstrikes and justify detentions.
Denials
Microsoft claims they found no evidence to date that its systems were used to harm civilians and maintains that its technology must not be used to identify bombing targets.
- Unit 8200
- Elite Israeli cyber intelligence unit
- Cloud Platform
- Microsoft Azure
- Data Storage
- Up to 11,500 terabytes of Palestinian data
- AI Tool
- Similar to ChatGPT, used for analysis and target identification
- Microsoft's Response
- Launched review; claims no evidence of harm, but sources disagree