Microsoft employees protest contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
More than 100 Microsoft employees have signed an open letter to Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella in protest of the company's deal with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), an agency which has been separating members of families who illegally cross US borders.
This letter urges Microsoft management to not follow through on a deal made with ICE and to instate a policy against working with clients who violate international human rights laws. The deal, a $19.5 million contract, will provide ICE with cloud storage, data processing, and artificial intelligence services.
“We believe that Microsoft must take an ethical stand, and put children and families above profits,” said the letter, addressed to the chief executive, Satya Nadella. “As the people who build the technologies that Microsoft profits from, we refuse to be complicit. We are part of a growing movement, comprised of many across the industry who recognize the grave responsibility that those creating powerful technology have to ensure what they build is used for good, and not for harm.” To read the full letter as originally published by The New York Times, click here.
This letter was just one statement from the tech community in protest of President Donald Trump's "zero tolerance" policy, which aims to separate children from their parents when they cross US borders illegally. This policy has resulted in the government sending thousands of immigrant children to holding camps around the country, sparking international outrage. Alongside Microsoft, other prominent tech companies who have spoken out against this policy include Apple, Uber, Facebook, and Google.
On Twitter, Google CEO, Sundar Pichai, called what was happening at the border gut-wrenching and called for a more humane way to deal with the problem, while Uber CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, an immigrant himself, called the policy immoral and just plain wrong for pulling families apart.
The stories and images of families being separated at the border are gut-wrenching. Urging our government to work together to find a better, more humane way that is reflective of our values as a nation. #keepfamiliestogether
— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) June 19, 2018
As a father, a citizen and an immigrant myself, the stories coming from our border break my heart. Families are the backbone of society. A policy that pulls them apart rather than building them up is immoral and just plain wrong. #KeepFamiliesTogether
— dara khosrowshahi (@dkhos) June 19, 2018
Microsoft did not immediately respond to the letter, but was later quoted in a statement as saying: “Microsoft is not working with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement or US Customs and Border Protection on any projects related to separating children from their families at the border, and contrary to some speculation, we are not aware of Azure or Azure services being used for this purpose.”
By Daniëlle Kruger
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