Microsoft shareholders rejected two human-rights-related proposals at the company’s December 5, 2025, virtual annual meeting, even though each received more than one-quarter of votes cast. Proposal 8 received 27.48% support and Proposal 9 received 26.34%; both fell short of the majority required to pass. The results show meaningful minority backing for more disclosure, not approval of either proposal or a finding that Microsoft violated the law.
What happened at Microsoft’s 2025 shareholder meeting?
At its virtual annual meeting on December 5, 2025, Microsoft considered six outside shareholder proposals. All six were recorded as not approved. The final results were later published on Microsoft’s voting-results page; the meeting date and format are listed on the company’s annual meeting page.
The two human-rights proposals received the strongest support among the six. Microsoft’s rules required a majority of votes cast for a shareholder proposal to pass. More than 25% support therefore represents a substantial minority, not a successful vote.
What did the two proposals ask Microsoft to do?
Proposal 8: Data operations in human-rights hotspots
Formally titled “Report on Data Operations in Human Rights Hotspots,” Proposal 8 asked Microsoft to report on its data-center expansion in Saudi Arabia and countries with comparable human-rights records. It called for an assessment of risks that Microsoft technology could be used for state surveillance, repression, privacy violations or other human-rights harms. The proposal received 1,406,735,187 votes for, 3,712,753,371 against and 63,966,099 abstentions, or 27.48% support. It was not approved.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
#1 Best Overall
- Brilliant Display – Stunning 13.8" PixelSense touchscreen[1], with brilliant LCD display[2], unleashes luminous whites, deeper blacks and colors so richly saturated bringing vivid life into every frame – perfect for work, school, streaming and creative tasks.
- Power that lasts all day – With 20 hours of battery life[3], the new Surface Laptop powers through your entire day, so you can create, work and stream from morning to night without reaching for a charger.
- Work at the speed of your ideas – Built with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite (12 Core) processors, Surface Laptop delivers fast, AI‑accelerated performance—making it the most powerful Surface laptop for everything from multitasking to demanding workloads.
- The ports you need – Charge on-the-go, transfer data fast, or create the ultimate desktop set up with two USB-C / USB4[4] ports.
- Built-in AI Companion – Work smarter, create freely, and communicate with confidence—Copilot[5] on Windows 11 is always there to help.
Proposal 9: Human-rights due diligence
“Report on Human Rights Due Diligence,” Proposal 9, asked the board to publish an assessment of how effective Microsoft’s due-diligence processes are at preventing, identifying and addressing customer misuse of its AI and cloud products or services in ways that violate human rights or international humanitarian law. It received 1,336,945,255 votes for, 3,738,252,211 against and 108,257,191 abstentions, or 26.34% support. It was not approved.
The formal proposal language appears in Microsoft’s SEC-filed proxy statement. The two measures were related but distinct: Proposal 8 focused on data-center operations in higher-risk countries, while Proposal 9 focused on due diligence concerning customer use of AI and cloud services.
Rank #2
- With 16 GB of memory, runs as many programs as you want without losing the execution
- The 13.5" 2256 x 1504 screen provides a great movie watching experience
- 512 GB SSD is enough to store your essential documents and files, favorite songs, movies and pictures
- 8 Hours battery run time helps you stay unwired and work longer non-stop
Why were shareholders concerned?
The proposals arose amid scrutiny of Microsoft’s cloud and AI services in conflict-related and geopolitical settings, including allegations about use by Israeli military or intelligence bodies in Gaza. The resolutions also addressed wider concerns about customer misuse and data-center operations in countries with poor human-rights records; neither was limited to one customer or conflict.
Microsoft’s proxy materials say the company conducted an internal review followed by a review by Covington & Burling. Microsoft announced on September 25, 2025, that some use of Azure storage capacity and AI services by the Israeli Ministry of Defense violated the company’s terms of service. That statement is distinct from broader allegations about the consequences or legality of the use: the shareholder vote did not determine those questions.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesRank #3
- A PREMIUM PERFORMANCE LAPTOP — Ready for work, school, and creativity. Built for busy days, big projects, and nonstop multitasking. Run video calls, school and work apps, 20+ browser tabs, and AI tools at the same time without slowing down.
- WITH AI BUILT IN — With a dedicated AI chip (Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite), this Copilot+ PC[5] on Windows 11 helps you work smarter and faster. Prompt, create, and automate with ease - ready for even your most demanding tasks.
- A 13.8" TOUCHSCREEN YOU'LL ACTUALLY USE — Sharp colors, real detail, smooth 120Hz scrolling on the PixelSense touchscreen[1] with LCD display[2]. Tap, scroll, or pinch to zoom - whichever feels right for streaming, editing photos, or daily work.
- 20 HOURS OF BATTERY (LEAVE THE CHARGER) — Up to 20 hours of video playback[3] on a single charge. Work from a coffee shop, take it to class/work, or binge an entire season on a long flight — it'll keep up.
- THE PORTS YOU NEED — Two USB-C / USB4[4] ports for fast charging, big file transfers, or hooking up to three 4K monitors when you want a full desktop. Wi-Fi 7 keeps you online and fast wherever you are.
Proponents argued that investors needed more transparency about risks including surveillance, repression and possible violations of international humanitarian law. Those are proponents’ concerns, not findings established by the vote. The proposals requested reports and assessments; they did not themselves ask shareholders to terminate a contract, close a data center or cut off a customer.
How did Microsoft respond?
Microsoft’s board recommended voting against all six outside proposals. For Proposal 9, the company argued that it already had human-rights policies and due-diligence practices, had engaged with shareholders and stakeholders, and had made relevant disclosures. It also pointed to its review of concerns involving the Israeli Ministry of Defense. The company’s arguments and the proposal text are set out in the proxy statement and discussed in the annual meeting materials.
Rank #4
- A PREMIUM PERFORMANCE LAPTOP — Ready for work, school, and creativity. Built for busy days, big projects, and nonstop multitasking. Run video calls, school and work apps, 20+ browser tabs, and AI tools at the same time without slowing down.
- WITH AI BUILT IN — With a dedicated AI chip (Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite), this Copilot+ PC[5] on Windows 11 helps you work smarter and faster. Prompt, create, and automate with ease - ready for even your most demanding tasks.
- A 15" TOUCHSCREEN YOU'LL ACTUALLY USE — Sharp colors, real detail, smooth 120Hz scrolling on the PixelSense touchscreen[1] with LCD display[2]. Tap, scroll, or pinch to zoom - whichever feels right for streaming, editing photos, or daily work.
- 19 HOURS OF BATTERY (LEAVE THE CHARGER) — Up to 19 hours of video playback[3] on a single charge. Work from a coffee shop, take it to class/work, or binge an entire season on a long flight — it'll keep up.
- Two USB-C / USB4[4] ports and a microSD card reader for fast charging, big file transfers, or hooking up to three 4K monitors when you want a full desktop. Wi-Fi 7 keeps you online and fast wherever you are.
There was also organized opposition to Proposal 9. In an SEC filing, ADL and JLens characterized the proposal as connected to the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign targeting companies doing business with Israel. That is their characterization of the proposal; it should not be treated as an established description of every proponent or co-filer. The filing is available from the SEC.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to read the percentages and vote totals
The percentages reported for these proposals are percentages of votes cast for the proposal, not percentages of all Microsoft shares outstanding or a count of individual shareholders. Microsoft reports votes for, against, abstentions and broker non-votes separately. Abstentions and uninstructed shares held by brokers had no effect on the outcome under the stated rules, so broker non-votes should not be read as votes against.
Best Value
- Brilliant Display – Stunning 13.8" PixelSense touchscreen[1], with brilliant LCD display[2], unleashes luminous whites, deeper blacks and colors so richly saturated bringing vivid life into every frame – perfect for work, school, streaming and creative tasks.
- Power that lasts all day – With 20 hours of battery life[3], the new Surface Laptop powers through your entire day, so you can create, work and stream from morning to night without reaching for a charger.
- Work at the speed of your ideas – Built with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite (12 Core) processors, Surface Laptop delivers fast, AI‑accelerated performance—making it the most powerful Surface laptop for everything from multitasking to demanding workloads.
- The ports you need – Charge on-the-go, transfer data fast, or create the ultimate desktop set up with two USB-C / USB4[4] ports.
- Built-in AI Companion – Work smarter, create freely, and communicate with confidence—Copilot[5] on Windows 11 is always there to help.
Both proposals received far more votes against than for. The 25% mark was not a passage threshold; it is notable because the resolutions attracted sizeable minority support compared with the other outside proposals. The result does not amount to a majority shareholder revolt, and it does not establish that Microsoft committed or enabled a legal violation.
How the other four outside proposals performed
The final results show that the two human-rights measures substantially outperformed the other shareholder proposals. The percentages below are from Microsoft’s final voting results.
| Proposal | Support | Result |
|---|---|---|
| European Security Program Censorship Risk Audit | Less than 1% | Not approved |
| Report on Risks of Censorship in Generative Artificial Intelligence | 0.69% | Not approved |
| Report on AI Data Usage Oversight | 13.36% | Not approved |
| Report on AI and Machine Learning Tools for Oil and Gas Development and Production | 8.75% | Not approved |
What the vote means for Microsoft shareholders
The results indicate that more than one-quarter of votes cast supported additional disclosure or assessment on human-rights risks, while a majority did not support either proposal. Because the requested measures concerned reporting, even passage would not by itself have dictated a specific operational change. The vote is evidence of investor concern, not a legal judgment or a binding order to change Microsoft’s services.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
