Microsoft has directed its community of Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs) to “amplify” the vendor’s Azure marketing campaign in the lead up to AWS’s re:Invent conference, according to internal communications. The directive was shared publicly on Twitter by an Australian MVP, Geoffrey Huntley, posting screenshots of the communication on 16 April. Huntley revealed today that Microsoft removed his MVP award status as a result. “I see the Microsoft MVP award program has completed its de-evolution into outright providing content to influencers and asking them to spread it,” Huntley’s tweet read. “It's truly sad to see the Microsoft MVP Award devolve into ‘this is the content we want you broadcast’. Like they aren't even hiding it anymore. Now the team asks.”