Microsoft's ties with ICE come under fire amidst allegations that the company's cloud and AI technology are being used to support mass surveillance of US citizens

Microsoft’s ties with ICE come under fire amidst allegations that the company’s cloud and AI technology are being used to support mass surveillance of US citizens | PC Gamer Skip to main content Open menu Close main menu PC Gamer THE GLOBAL AUTHORITY ON PC GAMES US Edition UK US Canada Australia Subscribe Sign in View Profile Sign out Search Search PC Gamer Games Hardware News Reviews Guides Video Forum More PC Gaming Show PC Gamer Clips Software Codes Coupons Movies & TV Magazine Newsletter Affiliate links Meet the team Community guidelines About PC Gamer PC Gamer Magazine SubscriptionWhy subscribe?Subscribe to the world’s #1 PC gaming magTry a single issue or save on a subscriptionIssues delivered straight to your door or device From$1Subscribe now Don’t miss these Platforms Oh, good: Discord’s age verification rollout has ties to Palantir co-founder and panopticon architect Peter Thiel Platforms Open-source game engine Godot is drowning in ‘AI slop’ code contributions: ‘I don’t know how long we can keep it up’ Software Discord will decide which servers to age-gate ‘with a combination of automated detection with AI validation and human review’ Linux After Microsoft couldn’t keep its AI hands to itself, a notoriously complex Linux distro has started its long march away from GitHub Games Discord is rolling out facial scanning and ID checks globally in March for users who don’t want to be locked into a ‘teen-appropriate experience’ Platforms US Department of Homeland Security has reportedly demanded personal information about ICE’s critics from Discord, Reddit, Google, and Meta—and at least 3 of those platforms have complied AI A human software engineer rejected an AI agent’s code change request, only for the AI agent to retaliate by publishing an ‘angry’ blog about him Gaming Industry ‘There’s no reason for Discord to comply in advance’ with social media age verification laws instead of ‘fighting for their users’ says EFF expert Survival & Crafting Microsoft has revoked the DMCA takedown that forced an indie Minecraft-like off Steam Operating Systems Rufus developers have been blocked from downloading Windows ISOs, and believe there to be ‘active intentional involvement from Microsoft’ Browsers ‘This marks a significant step towards addressing anticompetitive behaviors’: Following a complaint from Opera, antitrust regulator launches an investigation into Microsoft Edge AI Google has published a list of ways AI is currently being used by threat actors to more efficiently hack you Sim Easy Anti-Cheat is coming to Rocket League, but Psyonix promises not to get all Fortnite with it and hose your Steam Deck and Linux installs Horror ‘They have effectively ghosted us:’ publisher of delisted art game Horses lambasts Epic Games Store after executive claims ‘we love that studio’ Games If you love hundreds of games for $10 and hate ICE, then boy does Itch.io have just the bundle for you PopularNEW: PC Gamer Clips!Arc RaidersBest PC gearFalloutGame Quizzes Games Microsoft’s ties with ICE come under fire amidst allegations that the company’s cloud and AI technology are being used to support mass surveillance of US citizens News By Andy Chalk published 18 February 2026 No Azure for Apartheid statement comes the day after reports claiming that ICE has tripled the amount of data stored on Microsoft’s Azure servers over the past six months. 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From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we’ve got you covered. Signup + Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! Signup + An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter No Azure for Apartheid, a worker-led organization that’s previously carried out multiple protests over Microsoft’s dealing with the Israeli military and its campaign in Gaza, has issued a statement calling on the company to end its relationship with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the agency more commonly known as ICE.The statement follows reporting by The Guardian, +972 Magazine, and Local Call that found ICE had tripled the amount of data it stored on Microsoft’s Azure servers between July 2025 and January 2026, to an astounding 1,400 terabytes, and also appears to be using Microsoft’s AI tools to search and analyze that data. Microsoft denied any allegation of wrongdoing, saying its terms and services forbid the use of its technology in mass surveillance of civilians, and that “we do not believe ICE is engaged in such activity.”ICE is currently the highest-funded law enforcement agency in the US, which has enabled it to spend big on technologies across an array of companies including Microsoft, Amazon, and Palantir, which have collectively pulled in tens of millions of dollars in ICE spending. Related articles US Department of Homeland Security has reportedly demanded personal information about ICE’s critics from Discord, Reddit, Google, and Meta—and at least 3 of those platforms have complied ‘It’s Whac-a-Mole of terror for the city you