FIn a bold act of internal dissent, two Microsoft employees Anna Hattle and Riki Fameli were dismissed on August 27 after staging a sit-in at the office of company president Brad Smith. The protest, orchestrated by the activist group “No Azure for Apartheid,” took place in Building 34, where the duo and other participants livestreamed their occupation through Twitch to highlight concerns over Microsoft’s business ties with Israel amid escalating global tensions. 

Microsoft confirmed the terminations, describing the incident as a serious violation of company policies and its code of conduct, equating the protest to a “break-in” into executive spaces. Authorities swiftly arrested Hattle and Fameli along with five other individuals, including former Microsoft staffers. Media reports say the protest led to the temporary lockdown of the executive wing. 

Responding to the upheaval, Brad Smith held an emergency press briefing, reaffirming Microsoft’s “commitment to human rights principles” and announcing an internal investigation particularly into concerns that Azure technology might be used for surveillance in the Israel Palestine conflict. 

Beyond the headlines, this incident raises probing questions: Can employees push for ethical change without crossing company lines? Microsoft’s disciplinary response underlines the delicate balance between purposeful protest and workplace boundaries.

Ultimately, the decision reflects the company’s firm stance on maintaining order and the risks employees take when turning a boardroom into a battleground.