Google Fires 28 Employees for Sit-Ins Protesting Israeli Contracts: A Shift in Tech Company Activism

Google Fires 28 Employees for Sit-Ins Protesting Israeli Government Contracts

In a surprising move, Google has fired 28 of its employees after they participated in sit-ins to protest the company’s contracts with the Israeli government. The employees were part of a group called “No Tech for Apartheid,” which has been vocal in its opposition to the provision of cloud computing—known as Project Nimbus—to the Israeli government.

According to a company spokesman, the employees were fired for physically impeding other employees’ work and preventing them from accessing Google’s facilities, which is a clear violation of company policies. The spokesman stated that such behavior is completely unacceptable.

This incident highlights a shift in how tech companies are handling employee activism. Just a few years ago, Google employees successfully protested a contract with the Pentagon, leading the company to develop a set of AI guiding principles. However, in this case, Google took a much tougher stance against the protesting employees.

It’s worth noting that Google has a long history of military contracts, both American and foreign. The company has worked with various government agencies, including the Coast Guard and the Army, on projects involving technology.

Overall, this incident raises questions about the balance between employee activism and company policies. While employees have the right to express their opinions, companies also have the right to enforce their policies and maintain a productive work environment. Google’s decision to fire the protesting employees reflects a growing trend of tech companies taking a tougher stance on employee activism.