Following protests over its tech supply to the Israeli government amid the Gaza war, Google fired some of its employees. The dissent concerns "Project Nimbus," a $1.2 billion contract for cloud computing and AI services.
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Firing Employees Amid Protests
Google terminated 28 employees following protests concerning the company's involvement in providing technology to the Israeli government during the Gaza conflict.
The dismissals occurred after nine employees were arrested during sit-in protests at Google offices in New York and Sunnyvale, California.
Associated Press reported that the protests revolve around "Project Nimbus," a $1.2 billion contract signed in 2021, requiring Google and Amazon to offer cloud computing and artificial intelligence services to Israel.
The protests, organized primarily by No Tech For Apartheid, dispute Google's participation in Nimbus, although Google asserts that the project does not involve weaponry or intelligence activities.
In response, No Tech For Apartheid accused Google of distorting the events, claiming the sit-in was peaceful and widely supported by non-participating workers. The group criticized Google for prioritizing its $1.2 billion contract with the Israeli government over its employees' rights.
From time to time, Google employees have expressed their dissatisfaction through protests concerning various company projects and ethical considerations surrounding its artificial intelligence development.
A notable instance occurred in 2018 when employee discontent led Google to terminate its contract with the U.S. defense department known as "Project Maven." This initiative involved assisting the military in analyzing military video footage.
Despite internal concerns about its business practices, Google has sustained its success. Most of its revenue is generated from digital advertising, facilitated by its prominent search engine.
Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company, reported a profit of $74 billion in the previous year. The company's workforce has also expanded, with approximately 182,000 employees worldwide, marking an increase of around 83,000 individuals since 2018, when it terminated Project Maven.
Defending These Actions
Google stated that the termination of 28 employees was due to their "completely unacceptable behavior," which disrupted work and created a threatening environment for others. The company mentioned ongoing investigations into the protest events, hinting at possible further terminations.
CEO Sundar Pichai addressed the situation in a blog post, indicating stricter guidelines for employees as the company focuses on advancing its AI technology during a crucial period for the industry and potentially for humanity.
Pichai emphasized the importance of maintaining a professional environment, highlighting the need to avoid disruptions and conflicts over contentious issues within the company.
He stressed the significance of focusing on the company's objectives without getting sidetracked by personal or political debates.
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