In a notable incident during Microsoft’s annual Build developer conference in Seattle, software engineer Joe Lopez made headlines by interrupting CEO Satya Nadella’s address. Lopez’s outburst, which occurred in the early moments of the event, was a protest against the company’s involvement in supplying technology to the Israeli military amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Following his vocal dissent, Lopez was promptly escorted from the venue.
Lopez later communicated with colleagues through a mass email, challenging Microsoft’s assertions regarding the use of its Azure cloud computing platform in Gaza. His actions were part of a broader wave of pro-Palestinian protests that unfolded during the conference, which attracted thousands of developers to the Seattle Convention Center. Multiple executive talks faced interruptions, and at one point, the company even muted the audio of a livestreamed session. Outside the venue, demonstrators gathered to voice their concerns.
Microsoft has a history of terminating employees who have protested against its operations related to Israel, including incidents at its 50th anniversary celebration in April. In a recent statement, the company acknowledged its provision of AI services to the Israeli military during the conflict in Gaza. However, it emphasized that there is currently no evidence linking its Azure platform or AI technologies to any targeting or harm inflicted upon individuals in Gaza.
The advocacy group No Azure for Apartheid, comprised of current and former employees, reported that Lopez received a termination letter following his protest, although he was unable to access it. The group further claims that Microsoft has restricted internal communications by blocking emails containing terms such as “Palestine” and “Gaza.”
As the four-day conference continues, Microsoft has not yet responded to inquiries regarding its handling of the protests that have taken place this week.
