Brian Eno has written a public letter asking Microsoft to cut off its artificial intelligence and cloud services from the Israeli military.
He titled his message Not in My Name and explained how Microsoft’s recent blog post clearly shows they’re giving technology and software to Israel’s Ministry of Defense, which he finds unacceptable. Eno said, “If you knowingly build systems that can enable war crimes, you inevitably become complicit in those crimes.” To show how serious he is, he promised to give away his payment from the Windows 95 startup sound to people harmed by the violence in Gaza.
Back when he first worked with Microsoft, Eno thought he was helping to open the door to a bright new world of tech, but now he says he never imagined the same company would help with war and oppression. Eno pointed to the company’s own blog as proof of their partnership with Netanyahu’s government, saying Microsoft is backing a regime that many legal experts, human rights groups, United Nations officials, and governments around the globe have called “genocidal.”
He also gave a shoutout to Microsoft employees who are speaking up and not just going along with things, calling them “truly disruptive.”
Fans sometimes wonder if big companies really care about what’s right or just about making money.
Eno has always spoken up for Palestinians and supports the BDS movement, and he’s often told other musicians not to perform in Israel.
Not in My Name: An Open Letter to Microsoft from Brian Eno
Back in the 1990s, Microsoft asked me to make a quick piece of music for Windows 95. That little chime ended up being played for millions, even billions of people, and it felt like a sign of hope for the future. I liked the creative challenge and enjoyed working with Microsoft. I never thought the company would one day be connected to war and oppression.
Now, I feel I have to speak up, not as a composer, but as a regular person, because Microsoft is helping with technology that leads to surveillance, violence, and destruction in Palestine.
In a blog post from May 15, 2025, Microsoft admitted it gives Israel’s Ministry of Defence “software, professional services, Azure cloud services and Azure AI services, including language translation.” They also said, “It is important to acknowledge that Microsoft does not have visibility into how customers use our software on their own servers or other devices.” These services help a government that many experts and organizations say is committing genocide. Microsoft’s tools are being used in deadly technologies with strange names like ‘Where’s Daddy?’—a system for tracking Palestinians to attack them at home.
Selling advanced AI and cloud services to a government doing ethnic cleansing isn’t just normal business. It’s taking part in it. If you build things that can help with war crimes, you’re part of those crimes.
Companies like Microsoft have more power than many countries now. That means they have a huge responsibility to do the right thing. I’m asking Microsoft to stop all services that help with breaking international law.
My new startup sound is this: support the brave Microsoft workers who have spoken out and refused to stay quiet. They risk their jobs for people who are in real danger.
I hope artists, tech workers, musicians, and everyone with a conscience will join me.
I also promise that the money I got for the Windows 95 sound will go to help people hurt in Gaza. If a sound can mean real change, let it be this one.
