Google sit in people have been fired

Google has terminated 28 employees following protests over its technology supply to the Israeli government amid the Gaza conflict, intensifying tensions around a contentious deal.

The dismissals, confirmed by Google on Wednesday, came after nine employees were arrested during sit-in protests at offices in New York and Sunnyvale, California, following police intervention.

The protests at Google revolve around “Project Nimbus,” a $1.2 billion contract signed in 2021 for Google and Amazon to provide cloud computing and artificial intelligence services to the Israeli government.

Organized primarily by a group called No Tech For Apartheid, the protests aim to highlight concerns about the use of technology in controversial government projects. Google insists that Nimbus is not used in weaponry or intelligence gathering.

Google stated that the 28 employees were fired for “completely unacceptable behavior” that disrupted work and created a threatening environment. The company is still investigating the protests, indicating that more employees could face termination.

No Tech For Apartheid accused Google of misrepresenting the events during the protests, describing the sit-ins as peaceful and widely supported by other workers.

In a blog post, Google CEO Sundar Pichai emphasized the importance of maintaining a respectful workplace and avoiding disruptions. He suggested that employees should not use the company as a platform for personal agendas or contentious issues.

The contract at the center of the protests falls under Google’s cloud computing division, led by Thomas Kurian, a former Oracle executive. Cloud computing has become a major revenue driver for Google, with a significant client base in both the private and public sectors.

Despite internal controversies, Google has continued to grow, particularly in its advertising business, which relies on its dominant search engine. The company has faced similar protests in the past, including over its involvement in “Project Maven,” a defense department contract involving military video analysis.

Google's revenue reached $33 billion from its cloud computing division in 2023, a 26% increase from the previous year.