Microsoft has fired Indian-American software engineer Vania Agarwal and another employee after they protested during the company’s 50th anniversary event. They accused Microsoft of supporting the Israeli military by providing AI technology.
Why Were They Fired?
Vania Agarwal spoke out during the event, where top Microsoft leaders like CEO Satya Nadella, Bill Gates, and Steve Ballmer were present on stage. She accused Microsoft of helping Israel in the Gaza conflict through its technology.
She said:
“Fifty thousand Palestinians in Gaza have been killed using Microsoft technology. How dare you celebrate over their blood? You all should be ashamed.”
After her comments, security asked her to leave the venue. Microsoft said she disrupted the event to gain attention and harm the company’s reputation. Another employee who was involved had already resigned, but Microsoft asked them to leave five days earlier than planned.
What Did Vania Say?
Vania later submitted her resignation letter, saying April 11 would be her last day. In her letter, she called Microsoft a “digital weapons manufacturer” and blamed its cloud services and AI tools for supporting Israel’s attacks in Gaza.
She wrote:
“Microsoft has become a platform that empowers racism, surveillance, and genocide. If we continue to work here, we are all part of this.”
She urged other employees to speak up and hold the company accountable to its values and mission.
This protest has sparked big discussions in the tech industry about how companies should use their technology, and whether employees should speak out publicly against their employers.
