US Protestors Charge Google of Genocide in Gaza
Protesters wearing white shroudsIn the wake of the escalating Zionist aggression against the Gaza Strip after the unprecedented Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, Western cities have become arenas for demonstrations and mobilizations aimed at vehemently condemning the aggressions perpetrated by the Israeli occupation army and fervently advocating for a swift ceasefire.
One of those conspicuously noteworthy protests took place on Thursday, December 14, in the United States state of California. Numerous Google employees, accompanied by fervent activists, protested near the Google edifice. Their collective objective was to insistently beseech the US corporation to desist from providing any form of support to what they characterized as a “genocidal” campaign in the Gaza Strip.
The protesters prominently displayed banners bearing the explicit message, “Google, terminate your endorsement of genocide.”
Simultaneously, the protesters exhibited additional banners that depicted surveillance cameras, symbolically referencing the restrictions imposed on content supporting Palestine and artificial intelligence contracts concluded with the Israeli government.
A contingent of participants donned white coverings, emblematic of the shrouds worn by martyrs in occupied Palestine, upon which they inscribed the term “genocide” in hues and dimensions mirroring the letters of the Google logo.
“Stop Project Nimbus”?
During the protest, people chanted, “Stop Project Nimbus!” So, what exactly is the nature of this project, and what goals does it hope to achieve?
In 2019, the Israeli occupation army initiated its foray into artificial intelligence (AI) with the launch of the “Habsora” (The Gospel) system, which monitors and tracks targets within specified structures, tracing the origins of this project. One of these AI technologies is the Nimbus project, which has now re-emerged, reclaiming prominence on the continuum of advances in technology.
Then, in 2021, the Zionist entity signed a “secret military and security cyber deal” valued at $1.2 billion with Google and Amazon to launch Project Nimbus. This clandestine agreement underscores the integration of cutting-edge technologies into the occupation’s military and security apparatus.
It aims at providing cloud services for the Zionist military and government, allowing for further surveillance of and unlawful data collection on Palestinians, and facilitating expansion of Israel’s illegal settlements on occupied Palestinian land.
The contract requires housing the databases and software of both companies in specific data centers within the occupied Palestinian territories, facilitating the suppression and monitoring of Palestinian activists along the borders of Gaza and the occupied territories. Moreover, the Nimbus project enhances the efficiency of the Iron Dome system, which predominantly relies on advanced artificial intelligence techniques.
Google Employees Oppose
Ariel Koren, a marketing manager for Google’s educational products and a prominent opponent of the project, was given a 17-day deadline to relocate to So Paulo or lose her job. Koren stated in a letter to her coworkers that Google “systematically silences Palestinian, Jewish, Arab, and Muslim voices concerned about Google’s complicity in violations of Palestinian human rights—to the point of formally retaliating against workers and creating an environment of fear,” implying that the ultimatum was issued in retaliation for her opposition to and organization against the project. She filed retaliation complaints with Google’s human resources department and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), but her case was dismissed due to a lack of evidence.
Zionist Target List: Children
After more than 70 days of Zionist aggression on Gaza, it becomes evident that the Israeli occupation army is depleting not only its own military, security, and intelligence capabilities but also those of its allies in these domains. Despite these efforts, the focus remains exclusively on targeting civilians and residential buildings. This implies a failure of their AI technologies in the face of the steadfast resistance in Gaza, as their primary targets continue to be civilians, most of whom are women and children.
Source: Al-Manar English Website