Irish Lawmakers Demand Probe Into Microsoft Data Centre Role
Deputies accuse the Data Protection Commission of stalling a review of the Almunasseq app, which is hosted on Azure infrastructure in Dublin.
By Lauren Foster ·
Ireland’s data regulator has not issued a final decision on a complaint alleging that a Microsoft data centre hosts a surveillance app used by the Israeli military. Irish lawmakers are now calling for a deeper investigation into the matter, arguing that the Data Protection Commission, or DPC, is moving too slowly on the issue.
The dispute centers on the Almunasseq app. In 2025, the rights groups EKO and the Irish Centre for Civil Liberties filed a formal complaint with the DPC. They claimed that Microsoft’s Grange Castle data centre near Dublin hosts key components of the application. The app allows the Israeli army to track the phone locations of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. It also gives military officials access to device notifications, saved files, and cameras.
Sinead Gibney, a member of the Dail Eireann, said the delay in the DPC’s response is a concern. She stated that Microsoft’s Irish data centers are "fuelling the crime of apartheid against Palestinians." Gibney told Middle East Eye that she will push the Department of Enterprise to fully investigate the situation. She cited numerous United Nations reports that detail the system of restrictions placed on Palestinians.
The original complaint was submitted on behalf of a Palestinian resident and a European Union citizen. It relied on evidence from a whistleblower. That evidence showed that the Almunasseq app runs on Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform. The complaint argued that Microsoft provides the essential computer infrastructure, including cloud storage and computing power, needed for the app to function. This setup potentially places the data under the scope of EU data protection laws.
Almunasseq was launched in 2020 by Cogat, the Israeli military body that oversees civilian affairs in occupied Palestinian territories. The name translates to "the coordinator." Before the app, Palestinians seeking permits for work, education, or healthcare had to visit Cogat offices in person. Now, they must download the app to access these services. The application has been downloaded more than one million times from the Google Play Store.
EKO recently published a report titled "Apartheid in Your Pocket." It documents how the app has become a source of surveillance. One respondent said they deleted the app and threw away their phone after 2023. They feared the occupation authorities might use the device to monitor their private life. The report also notes that the app was used to cancel thousands of permits for medical treatment and work after October 2023. This affected children and elderly people who lost digital proof of their legal status.
The allegations come amid wider scrutiny of Microsoft’s ties to the Israeli military. Earlier this year, Middle East Eye reported that the Israeli Defense Ministry renewed a three-year deal with Microsoft worth $125 million. The deal was signed during the first year of the Gaza war in 2024. Separately, The Guardian and +972 Magazine reported that Israel’s Unit 8200 used Azure to store thousands of hours of intercepted audio.
Rewan al-Addad, senior campaign director at EKO, said Microsoft continues to provide key infrastructure for the app. She argued that Microsoft should cut ties with Almunasseq, just as it did with Unit 8200. Rasha Abdul Rahim of the Tech Justice for Palestine campaign added that no company should be beyond accountability. She said the era of impunity for Big Tech must end, starting in Ireland.
