Key Points
- Tech conferences see rising protests tied to companies’ government contracts, especially concerning Israel.
- Microsoft and Google have both faced employee-led disruptions over AI and defense collaborations.
- Microsoft used undercover guards at Build 2025; protestors were swiftly removed.
- Google increased CEO Sundar Pichai’s security spending by 22% to over $8 million.
This year’s major tech conferences have seen a sharp rise in protests and heightened security measures, driven by geopolitical tensions and controversies surrounding tech companies’ involvement with governments and military contracts.
At Microsoft’s Build conference in Seattle, Executive Vice President Jay Parikh was interrupted mid-keynote by a protester decrying the company’s Azure cloud services being used by the Israeli military. Security swiftly removed the protesters, including undercover guards embedded in the audience. This comes after a similar disruption at Microsoft’s 50th-anniversary event in April, where employees protested CEO Mustafa Suleyman’s role in military AI development. CEO Satya Nadella was also interrupted by employees denouncing Microsoft’s role in the conflict in Gaza. Several protesting employees were later fired.
The atmosphere was equally tense at Google I/O in Mountain View, California. Security was visibly tighter, with guards inspecting bags and confiscating personal items. The event followed Google’s past controversies, including protests over its $1.2 billion Project Nimbus contract with the Israeli government. Over 50 Google employees were terminated last year for protesting against the project.
Security experts say the rise in protests is linked to both political unrest, particularly the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in sensitive sectors like defense. Richard Dossett of American Global Security noted a marked increase in corporate security demands. At the same time, Kenneth Bombace of Global Threat Solutions emphasized the risks tech companies face as they become more deeply entwined with government contracts.
Microsoft has reportedly restricted internal emails containing terms like “Gaza,” “Palestine,” or “genocide,” citing spam concerns. Meanwhile, Google increased CEO Sundar Pichai’s security budget by 22% in 2024, highlighting the broader industry trend toward elevated executive protection.
From deploying undercover security to banning political discussions at work, tech firms are tightening control to minimize reputational and physical risks in a volatile global landscape.
