Vaniya Agrawal.
Credit: X/@EyeonPalestine
Microsoft marked its 50th anniversary on April 4 with celebrations across its offices and addresses by co-founder Bill Gates and former CEOs. These celebrations, however, were interrupted by protests from two of its employees over the supplying of artificial intelligence technology to the Israeli military.
One of the protestors was identified as an Indian-American Vaniya Agrawal who interrupted celebrations during which Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, former CEO Steve Ballmer and current CEO Satya Nadella were on stage — the first public gathering since 2014 of the three men who have been Microsoft's CEO.
According to a report by Times of India, Vaniya is a software engineer in Microsoft’s artificial intelligence division.
During the event, Vaniya stood up and shouted at the panelists, “Shame on you all. You’re all hypocrites."
“50,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been murdered with Microsoft technology. How dare you. Shame on all of you for celebrating in their blood. Cut ties with Israel.” Vaniya was heard saying. Vaniya was also reportedly booed by other employees before being escorted out by security.
Later, Vaniya shared a company-wide email to Microsoft employees in which she wrote that she has decided to leave Microsoft after working there for 1.5 years. "Hi all, My name is Vaniya, and after 1.5 years as a software engineer at this company, I’ve decided to leave Microsoft. My last day is next Friday, April 11. You may have seen me stand up earlier today to call out Satya during his speech at the Microsoft 50th anniversary. Here’s why I decided to leave the company, and why I spoke up today," she wrote and further listed Microsoft's alleged participation in the ongoing Gaza conflict.
Another female protestor who grabbed the headlines was identified as Microsoft employee Ibtihal Aboussad.
"You are a war profiteer. Stop using AI for genocide," Aboussad said at the event in Redmond, Washington, while interrupting Suleyman who was talking about the company's artificial intelligence assistant product.
Suleyman responded by saying: "I hear your protest, thank you." The protesting employee was then escorted away.
Aboussad was cited by news agency AP to be saying that she and Vaniya lost access to their work accounts after the protest.