Sign up to save tools and stay up to date with the latest in AI
bg
bg
1

Microsoft fires employee protestor who called AI boss a ‘war profiteer’

Apr 07, 2025 - theverge.com
Microsoft has terminated the employment of Ibtihal Aboussad following a disruption at the company's 50th-anniversary event, where Aboussad accused AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman of being a "war profiteer" and demanded Microsoft cease using AI for genocide. The protest, which also involved Vaniya Agrawal, who resigned and was immediately dismissed, was part of a broader campaign by the group No Azure for Apartheid, opposing Microsoft's contracts with the Israeli government. Both employees had also sent emails to colleagues urging the company to cut ties with Israel.

The email to Aboussad, seen by _The Verge_, cited "acts of misconduct" and described the protest as aggressive and disruptive, leading to security intervention. Microsoft Canada fired Aboussad, while Agrawal's resignation was expedited. The company expressed concern over the lack of apology or remorse from Aboussad, suggesting the actions were intended to gain notoriety and disrupt the event. Microsoft did not provide a comment on the dismissals in time for publication.

Key takeaways:

  • Microsoft terminated the employment of Ibtihal Aboussad for acts of misconduct during the company's 50th-anniversary event.
  • Aboussad and another protester, Vaniya Agrawal, disrupted the event by accusing Microsoft's AI CEO of being a "war profiteer" and demanding the company stop using AI for genocide.
  • Both protesters sent emails to coworkers urging Microsoft to end its contracts with the Israeli government.
  • Agrawal resigned as part of her protest and was dismissed immediately after submitting her notice.
View Full Article

Comments (0)

Be the first to comment!