Microsoft Helped Israel Hide Illegal Tracking, Activists Say
- Complaint alleges data transfer from servers violated EU law
- Microsoft says decision to transfer data made by the customer
Photographer: Niall Carson/PA Wire
An activist group has filed a complaint accusing Microsoft Corp. of violating the European Union’s data protection law, citing allegations from the company’s employees that it helped remove evidence of Israel’s broad surveillance of Palestinians from data centers located on the continent.
The complaint, which was submitted on Wednesday and reviewed by Bloomberg, asks the Irish Data Protection Commission to investigate Microsoft’s processing of Israeli military and government data and to halt the practice where it is unlawful. The complaint was filed in Ireland, where Microsoft has its European headquarters. Local regulators are responsible for enforcing the EU’s data protection law.