Tech workers from Google and Amazon, along with activists, protested the tech giants’ cloud contract with Israel outside of Google offices in Seattle on April 16, 2024. About 50 workers and activists gathered outside Google’s Seattle offices in opposition to Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion contract providing cloud services to the Israeli government. The concern is amplified by Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, with protesters calling for an end to the project and the funding for AI and machine learning going toward government programs participating in genocide.
Protests also took place in California and New York City, with a group called No Tech for Apartheid organizing the events. Evidence shows that the Nimbus contract is aiding military efforts, with Google Cloud providing services to the Israeli Ministry of Defense. The use of AI-enabled technology to support war efforts, such as guiding drones and conducting bombing, is a major concern for protesters. They emphasize the importance of being mindful of where AI and machine learning technologies are being used, particularly in military contexts.
Protesters in Seattle carried signs and chanted their opposition to the tech companies’ involvement with Israel during the two-hour protest. The day before, protesters blocked an expressway leading to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for three hours, resulting in the arrest of 46 people. The Seattle protest was part of nationwide demonstrations against the tech giants’ contract with Israel’s government. The protests are aimed at raising awareness about the potential implications of supporting military operations through AI and machine learning technologies.
The protest in Seattle was part of a larger movement against the tech giants’ cloud contract with Israel, with demonstrations also taking place in California, New York City, and San Francisco. Protest organizers, including tech workers from companies like Google and Apple, are advocating for an end to Project Nimbus and the utilization of AI and machine learning technologies in military operations. The protesters are calling attention to the ethical implications of supporting government programs that are actively participating in actions deemed as genocide.
The protesters are highlighting the use of AI-enabled technology in military operations and the potential consequences of supporting such initiatives through cloud services and data centers. By demonstrating outside tech companies’ offices and occupying common spaces, the protesters are drawing attention to the role of tech giants in providing services to government programs engaged in actions that are viewed as ethically questionable. The protests are part of a broader movement to challenge the involvement of tech companies in projects that raise human rights concerns and advocate for greater accountability in the technology sector.
Overall, the protests against Google and Amazon’s cloud contract with Israel aim to shed light on the ethical implications of supporting government programs engaged in actions deemed as genocide. Protesters are calling for an end to Project Nimbus and the funding for AI and machine learning technologies used in military efforts. The demonstrations in Seattle and other tech hubs are part of a larger movement advocating for greater accountability and ethical considerations in the tech industry when providing services to government entities involved in controversial actions.
