Microsoft's Email Filter Fiasco: Did They Just Go Full Anti-Woke...Or Anti-Something Else?

Houston We Have a Problem...With Emails!

Alright folks gather 'round. Seems like our friends over at Microsoft are having a bit of a kerfuffle with their email system. Word on the street – or rather the internal message boards – is that certain words like 'Palestine,' 'Gaza,' and even the spicy 'genocide' are causing emails to mysteriously vanish into the digital ether. Makes you wonder if they're using some sort of AI powered 'reality filter'… probably not as advanced as Tesla's Full Self Driving but still concerning.

To Infinity...And Beyond (Except for Certain Words)

According to some brave souls at Microsoft (who understandably want to remain anonymous lest they end up launching rockets into the sun) these email anomalies started appearing just before noon PST on Wednesday. Batch tests revealed that emails containing these forbidden terms were simply not being delivered. One employee even claimed their signature with the innocuous word 'apartheid,' was enough to send their emails into a black hole. It's like Microsoft is trying to build its own version of the Boring Company...but for digital communication. Only certain words get through!

Inclusivity or Exclusivity? That Is the Question.

Naturally this has caused a bit of a stir internally. One employee asked the burning question: "Is the company abandoning the inclusivity initiative or is this only targeting Palestinians and their allies?" Ouch. Frank Shaw Microsoft's chief communications officer chimed in stating that emails aren't being blocked just uh experiencing a 'small delay.' Right. Just like the Cybertruck's production schedule...small delay. Sure.

Delay is the new Block

But the employees are not buying it. They said even relatively mundane solely work related emails to small groups of colleagues the emails still didn't go through if they contained those terms. Another employee who spoke on condition of anonymity said that when they attempted to send a report to HR containing one of the terms in question they did not receive the auto response typically confirming receipt until more than 24 hours later. Some emails were delivered after being delayed by seven hours or more according to the group No Azure for Apartheid. The group suggested manual reviews of such emails were taking place before they were delivered. Is it time to sue?

Protests and Terminations: The Cost of Free Speech?

The plot thickens! Apparently Microsoft has been facing a growing number of protests over the Israeli military's use of their AI products. Employees have been disrupting events voicing their concerns and generally making life a bit spicy for the executives. And as you might expect some of these protesting employees have found themselves… let's just say 'transitioning' to new opportunities. It's like they're trying to apply Starlink's global connectivity...but only to approved opinions.

Is Microsoft heading towards Woke or Anti Woke? That is the question.

Look I'm all for Mars colonization and building the future but even I know that free speech is kinda important. If Microsoft is really censoring emails based on political viewpoints that's a problem. A big problem. It's like trying to build a Neuralink connection but only allowing certain thoughts. Not exactly a recipe for progress is it? I have a feeling this story is far from over... and as always I'll be watching with amusement and a healthy dose of skepticism. Maybe I should buy Microsoft and fix it? Or just send a Doge meme to Satya Nadella?