Google fires 28 employees following protests against a cloud computing contract with the Israeli government. The tech giant accused the fired employees of engaging in “completely unacceptable behaviour” during a sit-in at company offices.
Google Fires 28 Employees After Staff Protest Cloud Contract
The firings stem from protests organized by the group No Tech for Apartheid, who occupied Google offices in California and New York to oppose Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion cloud computing and AI services contract with Israel. Videos shared online showed police arresting employees at Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian’s office.
In a statement, Google defended its actions, claiming that the sit-in disrupted operations and violated company policy. The statement also denied the contract is for weapons or intelligence services.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai emphasized the importance of a “vibrant, open discussion,” but argued that the protest went too far. “This is a business, and not a place to act in a way that disrupts coworkers…or fight over disruptive issues or debate politics,” Pichai said.
No Tech for Apartheid condemned the firings as retaliation, highlighting Google’s silence on their concerns throughout the three-year protest. They also denied claims of property damage or impeding other employees, asserting the protest was peaceful and received support from colleagues.
This incident has ignited a debate about employee activism and corporate responsibility, with many questioning Google’s decision to fire 28 employees over a peaceful protest.
