Microsoft has terminated an employee following an interruption of CEO Satya Nadella’s speech. The incident occurred during the company’s annual Build developer conference in Seattle, where software engineer Joe Lopez protested against Microsoft’s provision of technology to the Israeli military for use in the Gaza conflict.
Lopez challenged the company’s statements on how its Azure cloud computing platform is utilized in Gaza, sending a mass email to colleagues disputing the claims. His protest marked the beginning of several pro-Palestinian demonstrations during the event, which attracted thousands of software developers. At least three presentations by executives were disrupted, and one livestream’s audio was temporarily cut. Additionally, protesters gathered outside the venue.
Microsoft has a history of dismissing employees who protest its operations in Israel, including an incident at the company’s 50th anniversary celebration in April. Recently, Microsoft confirmed providing AI services to the Israeli military but stated there was no evidence that its Azure platform and AI technologies were used to target or harm people in Gaza.
The advocacy group No Azure for Apartheid reported that Lopez received a termination letter after his protest, but was unable to access it. The group also claimed that Microsoft has blocked internal emails containing terms like “Palestine” and “Gaza.”
Microsoft has not responded to emailed inquiries regarding their actions in reaction to the protests. The four-day conference is slated to conclude on Thursday.
This report was initially published on Fortune.com.
