By D. W. G. Kalani Tharanga, JadeTimes News
Unexpected Account Terminations
Many Palestinians living abroad have found their digital lives upended after Microsoft unexpectedly closed their email accounts. News has interviewed 20 Palestinians who reported being locked out of their accounts, with the actual number of affected individuals likely much higher. These accounts, in some cases over 15 years old, contained vital emails, contacts, and cherished memories, now seemingly lost without any clear explanation from Microsoft. The tech giant, which owns the voice and video chat app Skype, cited violations of its terms of service as the reason for the closures but has refused to specify the exact nature of these violations, stating the decision is final.
For Salah Elsadi, a Palestinian living in the US, Skype was a crucial tool for maintaining contact with his family in Gaza. Due to frequent internet disruptions and the high cost of international calls, Skype offered an affordable way to stay in touch. However, in April, Elsadi and many others were abruptly locked out of their Microsoft accounts, losing access to essential services tied to their Hotmail accounts. Elsadi, who has used his Hotmail account for 15 years, expressed his frustration, "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 times."
Accusations of Unfair Persecution
The affected Palestinians vehemently deny any connections to Hamas, a group designated as a terrorist organization by several Western countries, including the US, where Microsoft is headquartered. They accuse Microsoft of unfairly persecuting them based on their nationality and the region they are calling. Eiad Hametto, who was using Skype to call his family from Saudi Arabia, said, "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."
Microsoft responded to these allegations by stating that it does not block calls or ban users based on their calling region or destination. Instead, a spokesperson mentioned that "blocking in Skype can occur in response to suspected fraudulent activity" without providing further details. Although users have the option to appeal, many of those interviewed by News have found the process frustrating and unproductive, receiving the same generic responses. Khalid Obaied, who used Skype to call his family in Gaza from Belgium, voiced his disappointment, "I don't trust them anymore. I paid for a package to make phone calls then, after 10 days, they ban me for no reason. They have never provided a reason. That means it's only because I’m a Palestinian calling Gaza."
These account closures have not only disrupted communication but also caused significant personal and professional hardships for those affected. As they continue to seek answers and reinstatement of their accounts, the broader implications of such actions by a major technology company remain a contentious issue.
