In a revealing investigation reported by USA Zine, it has come to light that Israel’s elite cyber-intelligence unit has been utilizing Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure to store extensive volumes of intercepted telephone conversations involving Palestinians. This surveillance operation, which has been active since 2022, is attributed to Unit 8200, the Israeli military’s covert intelligence branch, known for pioneering technologies in military operations.
The investigation, which involves testimonies from multiple sources including military and corporate insiders, alleges that this system enables the collection and retention of millions of daily phone calls from individuals in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Documents sourced from Microsoft disclosed that a considerable amount of this data is stored on their Azure servers located in the Netherlands and Ireland.
According to multiple military sources, this cloud-based surveillance system plays a crucial role in guiding tactical military operations, including aerial strikes within the Palestinian territories. However, Microsoft has stated that its CEO, Satya Nadella, who had a meeting with Unit 8200’s commander in 2021, was reportedly unaware of the nature of the data being stored. The tech giant emphasized that an internal review revealed no evidence suggesting that Azure or its artificial intelligence tools were employed to target or harm individuals.
This disclosure follows a report by the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, which identified various corporations, including Microsoft, that contribute to Israel’s military operations. Since its establishment in Israel in 1991, Microsoft has developed significant collaborations across various sectors, embedding its technologies into military, law enforcement, and educational infrastructures.
The relationship between Microsoft and Israeli intelligence has grown deeper over the years; the company has acquired technology firms specializing in surveillance and cybersecurity. Notably, an Israeli colonel commented on the transformative capabilities of cloud technologies in military contexts, highlighting strategic uses of such innovations.
Unit 8200 has been pivotal in advancing this bulk monitoring approach, moving away from selective tracking to broad-based surveillance of the Palestinian populace. Advanced artificial intelligence tools have been implemented to assign risk scores to communications, based on specific keywords. Despite the stated intent of enhancing security, there are alarming allegations that this system has facilitated unlawful detentions and actions against Palestinians.
As the ongoing conflict continues, with a staggering number of casualties reported, the role of technology in military operations remains a contentious issue. Microsoft maintains that it lacks detailed knowledge about the specific types of data being stored by military units, yet the strategies leveraging technology to enhance surveillance raise ethical and humanitarian concerns.
The implications of this surveillance initiative reflect a broader concern regarding privacy, human rights, and the responsibilities of technology companies in conflict zones. As global conversations about technology and ethics evolve, these revelations emphasize the need for heightened scrutiny of corporate involvement in military operations, particularly in sensitive regions.
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