August 15, 2025 update: Microsoft Corporation announced today that it is undertaking a formal review of allegations reported by The Guardian on August 6, 2025, relating to usage of Microsoft Azure by a unit of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). The Guardian, on that date, reported that multiple individuals have asserted that the IDF is using Azure for the storage of data files of phone calls obtained through broad or mass surveillance of civilians in Gaza and the West Bank. Microsoft’s standard terms of service prohibit this type of usage.
Microsoft is turning to the law firm of Covington & Burling LLP, with technical assistance from an independent consulting firm, to conduct the review. This will expand on the company’s earlier review, which did not identify any usage by the IDF that violated the company’s terms of service. Microsoft appreciates that The Guardian’s recent report raises additional and precise allegations that merit a full and urgent review. The company will share with the public the factual findings that result from this review, once it is complete.
In recent months, we’ve heard concerns from our employees and the public about media reports regarding Microsoft’s Azure and AI technologies being used by the Israeli military to target civilians or cause harm in the conflict in Gaza. We take these concerns seriously. In response, we have conducted an internal review and engaged an external firm to undertake additional fact-finding to help us assess these issues. Based on these reviews, including interviewing dozens of employees and assessing documents, we have found no evidence to date that Microsoft’s Azure and AI technologies have been used to target or harm people in the conflict in Gaza.
Microsoft works with countries and customers around the world, including the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD). Microsoft provides IMOD with software, professional services, Azure cloud services, and Azure AI services, including language translation. As with many governments around the world, we also work with the Israeli government to protect its national cyberspace against external threats.
Our relationship with the IMOD is structured as a standard commercial relationship. Like all our customers, the IMOD’s use of our technology is bound by Microsoft’s terms of service and conditions of use, including our Acceptable Use Policy and our AI Code of Conduct. These require customers to implement core responsible AI practices–such as human oversight and access controls–and prohibit the use of our cloud and AI services in any manner that inflicts harm on individuals or organizations or affects individuals in any way that is prohibited by law.
Based on our review, including both our internal assessments and external review, we have found no evidence that Microsoft’s Azure and AI technologies, or any of our other software, have been used to harm people or that IMOD has failed to comply with our terms of service or our AI Code of Conduct.
We do occasionally provide special access to our technologies beyond the terms of our commercial agreements. In addition to the commercial relationship with the IMOD, Microsoft provided limited emergency support to the Israeli government in the weeks following October 7, 2023, to help rescue hostages. We provided this help with significant oversight and on a limited basis, including approval of some requests and denial of others. We believe the company followed its principles on a considered and careful basis, to help save the lives of hostages while also honoring the privacy and other rights of civilians in Gaza.
It is worth noting that militaries typically use their own proprietary software or applications from defense-related providers for the types of surveillance and operations that have been the subject of our employees’ questions. Microsoft has not created or provided such software or solutions to the IMOD.
It is important to acknowledge that Microsoft does not have visibility into how customers use our software on their own servers or other devices. This is typically the case for on premise software. Nor do we have visibility to the IMOD’s government cloud operations, which are supported through contracts with cloud providers other than Microsoft. By definition, our reviews do not cover these situations.
In sum, Microsoft has long defended the cybersecurity of the State of Israel and the people who live there. We similarly have long been committed to other nations and people across the Middle East. Our commitment to human rights guides how we engage in complex environments and how our technology is used. We share the profound concern over the loss of civilian life in both Israel and Gaza and have supported humanitarian assistance in both places. The work we do everywhere in the world is informed and governed by our Human Rights Commitments. Based on everything we currently know, we believe Microsoft has abided by these Commitments in Israel and Gaza. You can read a summary of these Commitments here.