Microsoft announces it will expand human rights governance and accountability measures after Israeli military allegedly violated terms of use
"Microsoft to tighten human rights measures after inquiry into Israel’s use of its tech" 4 June 2026
Microsoft has said it will tighten human-rights controls when working with national security agencies after an inquiry into how the Israeli military used its cloud technology for the mass surveillance of Palestinians.
On Thursday, Microsoft announced the completion of the inquiry and a series of new measures that include changes to how the company oversees employees with security clearances issued by foreign governments...In a summary of the inquiry’s outcome, Microsoft said its “factual findings remain the same” and it would adopt a series of recommendations intended to improve the “effectiveness of our human-rights governance”...
According to the Summary of 2025 External Investigation and Follow Up, Microsoft will:
- Enhance pre-contract review processes for national security-related engagements, improving both efficiency and human rights due diligence through a comprehensive internal review of existing procedures
- Review and strengthen oversight of security clearance processes in non-U.S. markets, including clearer employee guidance and improved coordination with government partners to ensure compliance with local laws and requirements
- Conduct ongoing and periodic reviews of acceptable-use policies and national security-related policies, especially when political conditions, project scope, or external circumstances change, with stronger continuous due diligence in conflict-affected and high-risk regions
- Improve employee training and guidance on acceptable use policies, including practical application and clear escalation pathways for policy-related questions or concerns
- Expand mechanisms for employees to report concerns about technology development or deployment, including the “Trusted Technology Review” channel in the Microsoft Integrity Portal, which allows anonymous reporting with follow-up and escalation by dedicated teams