Microsoft Employee Bypasses Email Block to Protest Palestine Policy

In May 2025, a Microsoft employee named Nisreen Jaradat successfully bypassed an internal email filter that blocked words such as "Palestine," "Gaza," "Genocide," and "Apartheid." This filter was implemented to prevent mass emails containing these terms from circulating among Microsoft’s staff. Jaradat’s email, titled "You can’t get rid of us," was sent to thousands of employees and voiced strong opposition to the company’s censorship and its contracts with the Israeli government.

The email expressed frustration at Microsoft’s treatment of Palestinian employees and criticized the company for silencing voices that humanize Palestinians. Jaradat highlighted that attempts to raise concerns through official channels were ignored or met with retaliation, emphasizing the lack of effective avenues for employee expression on this issue.

This act of defiance came amid a wave of protests during Microsoft’s Build developer conference, where employees and former employees disrupted sessions and protested the company’s contracts with the Israeli government. The company had recently acknowledged its cloud and AI contracts with Israel but stated that reviews found no evidence of its technologies being used to harm civilians.

The email also called on Microsoft employees to join the No Azure for Apartheid (NOAA) campaign, which advocates ending Microsoft’s contracts with the Israeli government. Jaradat urged colleagues to either stay and fight for change internally or leave the company to avoid complicity in what she described as genocide.

Microsoft responded by reiterating that mass emails on non-work topics are inappropriate and that measures were taken to reduce such emails to employees who have not opted in. However, critics argue that the censorship is discriminatory and suppresses important employee voices on human rights issues.

This incident highlights the complex intersection of corporate policies, employee activism, and ethical concerns in the tech industry. It raises important questions about how companies manage sensitive political issues internally and the role of employees in advocating for social justice within large organizations.