Source : The Canadian Press
Google has terminated 28 employees following protests over its involvement in providing technology to the Israeli government amid the Gaza conflict. The dismissals, confirmed by Google on Wednesday, followed the arrest of nine workers during sit-in protests in New York and Sunnyvale, California. The dissent centers on "Project Nimbus," a $1.2 billion contract for cloud computing and artificial intelligence services for Israel. The protests, primarily led by a group named No Tech For Apartheid, contest Google's assertion that Nimbus isn't used for military or intelligence purposes.
Google cited "unacceptable behavior" for the firings, alleging disruption of work and creating a hostile environment. It's still probing the incidents, hinting at more terminations. No Tech For Apartheid accused Google of dishonesty, claiming widespread support for the peaceful sit-ins.
Google's CEO Sundar Pichai emphasized professionalism amid efforts to enhance AI technology. He stressed maintaining focus, refraining from disruptive behavior or political debates within the workplace. The controversial contract falls under the company's cloud computing division, overseen by former Oracle executive Thomas Kurian. Despite internal dissent, the division saw significant growth, generating $33 billion in revenue last year.
Google has faced employee protests over other contracts and ethical concerns regarding AI development. Notably, protests led to ending a contract with the U.S. Defense Department in 2018, known as "Project Maven." Despite internal discord, Google's financial performance remains robust, largely driven by digital advertising. Its parent company, Alphabet Inc., reported a $74 billion profit last year, with a global workforce of about 182,000 employees.
