Microsoft under fire for blocking emails with ‘Palestine’ and ‘Gaza’

Dozens of Microsoft employees have reported that emails containing terms such as "Palestine," "Gaza," and "Genocide" are being temporarily blocked, according to the protest group No Azure for Apartheid (NOAA).

The group claims the restrictions apply to both internal and external email communications and are not triggered by similar terms such as "Israel" or alternate spellings like "P4lestine."

NOAA alleges the move constitutes a form of censorship targeting Palestinian employees and their allies. “We believe this is an attempt by Microsoft to silence worker free speech,” said NOAA organizer Hossam Nasr.

Microsoft confirmed to The Verge that it had introduced measures to limit mass, politically-oriented internal emails.

“Emailing large numbers of employees about any topic not related to work is not appropriate,” said Microsoft spokesperson Frank Shaw. He added that the company provides a designated forum for employees who opt in to political discussions.

The restrictions come amid ongoing protests by current and former Microsoft employees over the company’s cloud and AI contracts with the Israeli government. During the Microsoft Build developer conference this week, multiple demonstrations disrupted keynote sessions. One protester, a Microsoft employee, was fired after interrupting CEO Satya Nadella’s presentation and sending a mass email to colleagues.

Earlier this week, Microsoft reiterated that internal and external reviews had found "no evidence" that its technology was used to target civilians in Gaza.