Seattle, May 20, 2025 — A tense moment unfolded at Microsoft’s Build 2025 developer conference when an employee interrupted CEO Satya Nadella during his keynote address, shouting pro-Palestinian slogans and accusing the tech giant of complicity in Israeli military operations through its cloud services.
The incident occurred shortly after Nadella began speaking. A man stood up from the audience and yelled, “Free Palestine,” before accusing the company of facilitating “war crimes powered by Azure.” The protester, later identified as Joe Lopez, works on Microsoft’s Azure hardware systems team and has been with the company for four years.
Security quickly intervened and removed Lopez from the venue, but not before he loudly challenged the ethical implications of Microsoft’s cloud computing contracts. “How about you show them how Microsoft is killing Palestinians?” Lopez shouted as startled attendees looked on.
Protest Backed by Employee Activist Group
According to The Verge, the outburst was part of a coordinated campaign by a group called “No Azure for Apartheid,” composed of both current and former Microsoft employees. Lopez reportedly followed his public protest with a company-wide email that condemned leadership’s silence on the issue.
“Leadership rejects our claims… Those of us who have been paying attention know that this is a bold-faced lie,” Lopez wrote in the internal communication, referencing company denials that its cloud services are being used in military operations against civilians in Gaza.
Previous Disruptions and Broader Context
This marks the second major disruption aimed at Microsoft executives in 2025. During the company’s 50th anniversary celebration earlier this year, activists interrupted a panel featuring tech icons including Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer, and Mustafa Suleyman, Microsoft’s AI chief. Suleyman was called a “war profiteer” by one protester at the event.
Reports suggest that the Build 2025 protest may have also involved a former Google employee who was previously dismissed for protesting Google’s own cloud contracts with Israel.
Microsoft Responds to Allegations
In response to ongoing criticism, Microsoft reiterated its position that an internal review found no evidence that Azure or any of its technologies are being used to intentionally harm civilians in Gaza.
A Microsoft spokesperson stated:
“We take all concerns seriously and have thoroughly investigated allegations regarding the misuse of our technologies. To date, we have found no credible evidence of our platforms being involved in any violations of international law.”
Despite the interruption, Nadella chose not to directly address the protest and continued with his keynote presentation as planned.
Employee Activism on the Rise in Big Tech
This latest disruption highlights a growing wave of employee-led activism within major tech firms, particularly concerning military contracts and human rights issues. Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and other tech giants have faced increasing scrutiny from both internal staff and outside watchdogs over their involvement in cloud infrastructure deals with governments accused of rights violations.
The Build 2025 conference was expected to showcase Microsoft’s latest innovations in AI, cloud computing, and developer tools. Instead, it has drawn attention for a dramatic moment of dissent, underscoring the ethical tensions that continue to challenge the tech industry.
