Ibtihal Aboussad, a Moroccan former AI engineer at Microsoft and Harvard graduate, has launched a global call to boycott the tech giant’s products, accusing the company of complicity in alleged war crimes through its involvement with the Israeli military.
During Microsoft’s 50th anniversary celebration in Redmond, Washington, Aboussad interrupted a keynote speech by Mustafa Suleyman, the company’s newly appointed head of artificial intelligence, to denounce Microsoft’s alleged role in supporting military operations in Palestine. “Microsoft profits from war and uses AI to facilitate crimes against humanity,” she proclaimed during the protest.
Following the public confrontation, Microsoft terminated Aboussad’s contract, citing “gross misconduct” and “insubordination.” In response, she released a video urging consumers to boycott Microsoft products, including Xbox, Copilot, and Candy Crush. “We must show that we do not support a company that ignores ethical principles,” she stated.
Her protest quickly went viral on social media, drawing widespread praise for her courage. Her dismissal also comes amid broader unrest within Microsoft, where a growing number of employees have expressed concern over the company’s military partnerships.
A recent investigation by the Associated Press alleged that AI models developed by Microsoft and its partner OpenAI have been used by the Israeli military to identify targets in Gaza and Lebanon.
In her video message, Aboussad called on tech workers to speak out against corporate complicity in human rights violations: “If you work for a company that disregards human rights, it’s time to raise your voice.”
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