Last Friday, two software engineers vocally protested the use of Microsoft's AI technology by the Israeli military. This follows the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement's calls to boycott Xbox earlier that same week (via Rock Paper Shotgun). It has since been reported that, as of this Monday, those two software engineers have been fired by Microsoft.
According to emails and internal communication seen by CNBC, AI software engineer Ibtihal Aboussad was told her employment would be terminated on the grounds of "just cause, wilful misconduct, disobedience or wilful neglect of duty." Fellow protestor Vaniya Agrawal had intended to resign from Microsoft on April 11, but the company wrote to her on Monday stating it had "decided to make [her] resignation immediately effective" that same day.
