Microsoft reduces ‘politically focused emails’ amid censorship allegations: reports

The confirmation to The Verge comes after a group of Microsoft workers belonging to No Azure for Apartheid (NOAA) accused the tech giant of censoring or blocking any emails containing the following words in the subject line or body:

• Palestine
• Gaza
• apartheid
• Genocide

Shaw, in response to an employee in Microsoft’s internal message board, initially said the company is not blocking or censoring emails unless they are sent to large numbers of random distribution groups, CNBC reported.

But NOAA said this is “demonstrably false”.

“The censorship is affecting every single outgoing email from any employee’s work email, including ones sent to a singular email, or even to Microsoft HR to report discrimination cases,” NOAA said in a statement.

“We believe Microsoft limiting its employees’ ability to report harassment and discrimination by limiting emails that contain the word ‘Palestine’ or ‘Gaza’ to be a flagrant discriminatory practice and a serious workplace concern.”