Microsoft to tighten human rights controls following inquiry into Israel’s use of technology
LONDON: Microsoft has said it will strengthen human rights oversight for national security agencies using its products, following an internal inquiry into how the Israeli military used its cloud technology — a relationship that deepened sharply following the outbreak of the conflict in Gaza.
The tech giant said it had completed the review — launched last year in response to concerns about the alleged use of Microsoft Azure and artificial intelligence tools by the Israeli Ministry of Defense for the mass surveillance of Palestinian civilians — and announced a series of new governance measures.
“Our relationship with IMOD is structured as a standard commercial relationship,” Microsoft said in its report.
“These require customers to implement core responsible AI practices — such as human oversight and access controls — and prohibit certain uses of our cloud and AI services, such as uses that facilitate the mass surveillance of civilian populations.”
