Microsoft made a harsh decision after the protest on the central campus. Two of the employees invading Brad Smith’s office were dismissed after the action. Software engineers Riki Fameli and Anna Hattle, as the prominent names of the protest, sat on the agenda in a short time. This brought back the attitude of employees in technology companies against political agreements.
The group participating in the protest was not only two people. Seven people participated in the action, the building’s security procedures led to the activation. After entering the office, the participants expressed their demands aloud and published the whole process live via Twitch. Thanks to this publication, the boundaries of the protest moved beyond the campus. In addition, the temporary closure of the building for a period of time, revealed the seriousness of the incident.
Microsoft spokesman made a statement on citing violations
The company’s spokesman said that the behavior of the two employees is unacceptable. In a statement to Geekwire, the rules were terminated due to the serious violation of the rules. Nevertheless, no official statement was made to The Verge. This cautious attitude suggests that Microsoft wanted to manage the issue in a controlled way. However, this approach brought about the discussions of transparency.
Immediately after the incident, Brad Smith appeared in front of the cameras. The press conference held in his office was broadcasted live via Youtube. Smith said here that human rights principles and contract conditions will be preserved. In addition, he stressed that Microsoft will adhere to these principles in collaborations in the Middle East. The explanations clearly revealed the distance between the demands of the employees and the stance of the company.
Another point that Smith mentioned was the allegations about Azure. The Guardian’s report suggested that the cloud platform was used for the supervision of the Palestinians. Smith recalled an investigation on these allegations. In addition, the investigation is still continuing and the results will be shared transparently, he said. These statements made Microsoft’s efforts in the shadow of criticism.
Hattle’s name had come up in a similar incident before. Last week, 20 people were detained by the police in the action held at Microsoft headquarters. Protesters had established an area called “liberated zone ında on the campus square. However, they attracted attention by pouring red paint on the Microsoft sign. With the line, he was among those detained in this action.
The group called “No Azure for Apartheid, is the main formation behind these actions. The group of both existing and former Microsoft employees demands the cancellation of agreements with the Israeli government. In recent months, they are trying to make their voices heard by organizing protests in different ways. On the other hand, the group’s methods cause the company to tighten security measures. In addition to all these, actions become increasingly visible.
The group was not limited to the campus. He also protested in front of the managers’ houses and in the office circles. Such actions reveal that employees want to spread the issue to a wider area. However, this is also criticized for disrupting the peace of the company. Despite this, protesters do not step back.
Such exits of employees in the technology sector are not new. In companies such as Google and Amazon, objections against agreements with states had risen. In addition, this reminds that technology giants are not only institutions of profit, but also have ethical responsibilities. In spite of everything, these outlets of the employees are carefully monitored before the public.
Developments in Microsoft can create different tensions in the short term. On the one hand, the company wants to maintain its commercial relations, on the other hand, the demands of the employees are expressed loudly. This contrast creates a picture that pushes the company’s internal balances. In addition to all these, the layoffs clearly show that this discussion will not be closed easily.