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Moroccan-born engineer Ibtihal Aboussad has been fired by Microsoft after publicly denouncing the role of the company’s AI technology in Israel’s war on Gaza. On April 4, she interrupted Microsoft’s 50th-anniversary celebration to protest the firm’s ties with Israel. The Associated Press confirmed her dismissal on Tuesday.
According to the same source, Aboussad, based at Microsoft’s Canadian headquarters in Toronto, was summoned to a video call on Monday with a human resources representative, who informed her she was being fired immediately. Earlier, CNBC reported on an internal email citing «intentional misconduct, disobedience, or willful neglect of duties» as grounds for the dismissal. The company accused her of making «hostile and unfounded accusations».
Before her meeting with HR on Monday, Ibtihal had already revealed that she had lost access to her work account after the protest.
Amid growing controversy over Microsoft’s technological support for Israel in the Gaza Strip, the company issued a statement last Friday saying it offers «many opportunities for all voices to be heard».
For her part, Ibtihal Aboussad told the Spanish news agency EFE that she fully understood the potential consequences of her actions and was not concerned by them.
«They could come after me, but I think the fear of that retaliation does not counter the fear of working on technology that bombs innocents», she said. «My biggest fear is waking up for my nine-to-five and realizing that my code might kill children today».
Abousaad’s protest last week has gone viral as the video of her interruption was widely shared online. Abousaad was praised for her what people found «brave» actions, prompting even praise from Hamas.
