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Google announced on Thursday that it had terminated 28 employees following protests against the company’s cloud contract with the Israeli government.
The protests were sparked by concerns over Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion contract awarded to Google and Amazon.com in 2021 to provide cloud services to the Israeli government.
Details of Protests and Actions:
During the protests, a small number of employees reportedly disrupted work at unspecified office locations, physically impeding other employees’ work and preventing access to facilities.
Google deemed this behavior a violation of its policies and took action accordingly.
Company Response and Investigations:
Google stated that it conducted individual investigations into the incidents and terminated the employment of the 28 employees involved.
The company affirmed its commitment to investigating further and taking necessary action.
Employees’ Response and Allegations:
Employees affiliated with the No Tech for Apartheid campaign criticized Google’s actions, labeling them as “flagrant retaliation.”
They argued that Google workers have the right to peacefully protest labor conditions and expressed concern that some fired employees did not directly participate in the protests.
Contract Controversy and Google’s Stance:
The protesting faction contends that the Nimbus contract indirectly supports the development of military tools by the Israeli government.
However, Google maintains that the contract does not involve highly sensitive or military-related workloads relevant to weapons or intelligence services.
This incident is not the first instance of protests at Google. In 2018, employees successfully persuaded the company to cancel a contract with the U.S. military known as Project Maven, aimed at analyzing aerial drone imagery for potential military applications.
