Google has fired 28 employees who protested a contract the company entered into with the Israeli government. The $1.2 billion contract between the entities will involve Google and Amazon providing cloud infrastructure and artificial intelligence (AI) services for the Israeli government and military.
The Contract at the Center of Controversy
The cloud infrastructure and AI contract between Google and Israel is called Project Nimbus, and has led to employees protesting the contract, including through means of public demonstrations and disruptive internal communications among employees.
Employee Protests and Firings
One such demonstration involved an employee staged sit-in protest at multiple Google offices in Seattle, New York, and Sunnyvale, Ca. The 28 employees who engaged in these public protests were fired on the basis of policy violations related to workplace disruption.
Details of the Sit-in
The sit-in at the offices in Seattle, New York, and Sunnyvale lasted nine hours. One of the sit-ins occurred at the office of the Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian.
Protestor Conduct and Apparel
Protestors accused Google of making money from promoting “genocide” by means of supporting the Israeli government and defense forces and donned shirts and banners condemning the contract between their employer and the foreign nation.
Arrests and Legal Actions
Police arrested nine Google employees for trespassing and disruption after the protestors did not heed several warnings to leave the property. This marked the end of the protest, as the employees were expelled from the premises.
Google’s Response to the Protests
Google responded to the protests by claiming that participants violated company policies by obstructing employees’ access to facilities and work. Google is conducting further investigations regarding the incidents.
The Role of “No Tech for Apartheid”
Project Nimbus has come under fire from a technology group called “No Tech for Apartheid,” which has taken on the advocacy against the contract. This group holds that providing the technology used to violate human rights should not be tolerated. The group has taken to organizing protests and opposition to contracts like Project Nimbus.
Google’s Justification for the Contract
For its part, Google states that its contract with Israel will provide the nation with general purpose technologies which are available globally. Any further application is simply a utilization of a general technology, tasked to perform for a particular endeavor, such as for military or intelligence purposes. Google has stated that it adheres to a corporate responsibility to work within local laws inside countries where they are contracted.
Internal Memo and Company Warnings
In response to the protests, Google’s vice president of global security issued a memo specifically reminding employees that Google adheres to a zero-tolerance position on disruptions and obstruction of the workplace.
Impact on Google’s Workforce
Some Google employees have resigned due to cited workplace morale and mental health concerns in the aftermath of the announcement and protest of Project Nimbus. Other employees have left in solidarity with their Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim colleagues.
Statements from Employees on Defense Contracts in Particular
In addition to targeting the Israeli contract in particular, some protestors have illuminated the material participation of technology providers in other conflicts and high crime areas. Some employees have stated personal conflict over Google services contracts with military and defense clients, due to the likely use of the data and programs enabled by the technology.
Broader Industry Implications
The protests at Google over its alliance with the Israeli government for AI and cloud infrastructure lead to the broader question of the moral neutrality of a technology tool if and when it might get into the wrong hands. The complicated case at Google also showcases the delicate balance large employers face between managing their business contracts and the personal sensibilities of employees.
Conclusion
As of the end of 2023, Google employed over 182,000 individuals. The company will likely have to retool and communicate clearly its policies for employee activism and potentially allow employees to recuse themselves from particular projects moving forward.
