Vaniya Agrawal, an Indian-American tech professional known for her vocal opposition to Microsoft’s association with the Israeli military, once again disrupted the company’s proceedings — this time at its flagship Build 2025 developer conference in Seattle. The incident took place on the third day of the event during a keynote session focused on AI security.
Agrawal, joined by former Microsoft employee Hossam Nasr, interrupted a session led by Neta Haiby, Head of AI Security, and Sarah Bird, Head of Responsible AI. The duo loudly accused Microsoft of aiding violence in Gaza by maintaining business contracts with Israel’s Ministry of Defence.
This marks the third consecutive day of protests at the Build 2025 event. On May 19, a current Microsoft employee disrupted CEO Satya Nadella’s keynote speech, echoing similar demands. On May 20, a Palestinian tech professional halted a session led by Microsoft Executive Vice President Jay Parikh during a presentation on Azure AI.
Not Her First Protest
Agrawal, who worked in Microsoft’s AI division until April 2025, has staged previous protests targeting the company’s defense-related contracts. In a bold move earlier this year, she confronted Nadella, former CEO Steve Ballmer, and co-founder Bill Gates at Microsoft’s Redmond headquarters, accusing the company of contributing to “genocide in the Gaza Strip.”
Following the confrontation, Agrawal submitted her resignation, stating she could not remain at a company that “sides with oppressors.” She alleged that Microsoft’s $133 million contract with Israel’s Ministry of Defence directly enabled military operations in Gaza through its cloud and AI technologies.
Microsoft Responds
In response to the April protest, Microsoft dismissed Agrawal and another employee for disrupting the company’s 50th anniversary event. A company spokesperson later said their actions were “hostile, unprovoked, and highly inappropriate.”
Agrawal had joined Microsoft in September 2023 after working at Amazon for over three years. Her activism has continued post-resignation, with her presence becoming a symbol of growing dissent among tech workers concerned with the ethical implications of defense contracts.
As protests intensify within the tech industry, Microsoft is under increasing pressure to address its controversial ties with military entities, particularly amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.