A BBC investigation reveals that Microsoft is permanently banning Palestinians in the U.S. and other countries who use Skype to call relatives in Gaza.

Reportedly, Microsoft has been banning and wiping the accounts of users who have leveraged Skype to contact relatives in Gaza. In some cases, email accounts over a decade old have been locked, destroying access to banking accounts, OneDrive storage, and beyond.

United States resident Salah Elsadi lost his account of over 15 years in the dragnet. “I’ve had this Hotmail for 15 years. They banned me for no reason, saying I have violated their terms — what terms? Tell me. I’ve filled out about 50 forms and called them many many times.” Eiad Hametto from Saudi Arabia echoed the report, “We are civilians with no political background who just wanted to check on our families. They’ve suspended my email account that I’ve had for nearly 20 years. It was connected to all my work. They killed my life online.”

Many of the users affected by the bans expressed that Microsoft may be falsely labelling them as Hamas

  • @UnderpantsWeevil
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    16 months ago

    there’s not any bases in Afghanistan anymore

    There actually are several NATO installations still in and around Kabul to secure the international airport and the US Embassy.

    It’s conducting war games that completely surround Taiwan.

    The US also conducts war games across the South China Sea, including between China and Japan and through the Chinese territorial waters in and around the Korean peninsula. These have become tit-for-tat exercises, and would stop if the US was no longer in the region.

    It’s claiming a ridiculous area for it’s EEZ

    Glances at the US base map Yes. Ridiculous.

    It’s sinking fishing vessels in international water

    Show your work. When did China conduct a military operation to sink a fishing vessel?

    It’s hacking the government systems of it’s neighbors

    I’m sure they’ll quit right after the NSA does.

    • @Maggoty
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      16 months ago

      Buddy. There are no more NATO forces in Afghanistan. The Embassy was evacuated. Bagram was evacuated. Years ago now.

      And why is China punishing Taiwan for American war games? They have plenty of ocean to use. And are you now claiming Jeju Island for China?

      Our bases are not an Exclusionary Economic Zone. The Nine Dashed Line is indefensible.

      Oh, now I need to prove stuff after you show up with a gilded lily of a meme masquerading as a map?

      And I don’t dispute that the CIA hacks governments. I also don’t pretend it’s going to make them our friend or blame those countries for seeking protection from the CIA.