Google Escalates Retaliation: Over 50 Employees Terminated After Protests
In a significant escalation, Google has fired over 50 employees following protests over the company’s involvement in Project Nimbus, a contract to provide cloud computing and AI services to the Israeli government. The action comes after workers, organized under the group No Tech For Apartheid, staged sit-in demonstrations at Google offices in New York and Sunnyvale, California, leading to police arrests.
According to No Tech For Apartheid spokeswoman Jane Chung, an additional 20 employees were dismissed on Tuesday night, including some who did not actively participate in the protests. The group alleges that the firings were intended to suppress dissent and reassert Google’s authority over its workforce.
Google, however, maintains that the terminations were based on a thorough investigation that gathered details from coworkers and identified individuals who used masks or concealed their identities. The company denies targeting bystanders and claims that those terminated were directly involved in disruptive activities.
CEO Sundar Pichai had previously indicated that employees would face consequences as the company intensifies its AI development efforts. The firings have generated significant backlash and raised concerns about Google’s commitment to free speech and employee rights. The No Tech For Apartheid group has vowed to continue its campaign against Google’s collaboration with the Israeli government, while Google’s actions have been condemned by civil liberties organizations and labor unions.
