Google Fires 28 Employees Amid Protests Over Israeli Government Deal
ICARO Media Group
In the aftermath of protests over a controversial deal between Google and the Israeli government, the tech giant has announced the termination of 28 employees. The move comes in the wake of sit-in demonstrations in New York and Sunnyvale, California, where nine employees were arrested.
The protests have centered around "Project Nimbus," a $1.2 billion contract signed in 2021, which requires Google and Amazon to provide cloud computing and artificial intelligence services to the Israeli government. The demonstrations have primarily been organized by a group called No Tech For Apartheid, who accuse Google of supporting a "genocidal" government.
Google has clarified that the technology provided through Nimbus is not intended for weaponry or intelligence gathering purposes. However, the dissenting employees argue that the company's actions contradict its claims.
In a statement, Google cited "completely unacceptable behavior" as the reason for firing the 28 employees. The company stated that their actions disrupted the work environment and created a threatening atmosphere. Google is currently investigating the events that transpired during the protests, raising the possibility of additional terminations.
No Tech For Apartheid responded in a blog post, accusing Google of lying about the peaceful nature of the sit-in, which they claim received overwhelming support from non-participating workers. The group asserts that Google prioritizes its lucrative contract with the Israeli government over the well-being of its own employees.
The controversial contract falls under Google's cloud computing division, led by Thomas Kurian, a former Oracle executive. Under Kurian's leadership, the division has experienced significant growth, generating $33 billion in revenue last year, a 26% increase from 2022. In addition to government contracts, a wide range of private-sector companies also utilize Google's cloud computing services.
This is not the first time Google employees have staged protests and raised ethical concerns about the company's business practices. In 2018, a similar uprising led to the end of a contract with the U.S. defense department involving military video analysis, known as "Project Maven." Despite internal dissatisfaction, Google has continued to thrive financially, mainly due to its dominant search engine and digital advertising revenue model.
Google's parent company, Alphabet Inc., reported a substantial $74 billion profit last year, solidifying its position as a leading tech player. With a global workforce of approximately 182,000 employees, the company has grown by 83,000 since the Project Maven controversy in 2018.
As the fallout from the protests unfolds, it remains to be seen how Google will address the concerns raised by its employees and the No Tech For Apartheid group, while balancing its business commitments and corporate image.