Project Nimbus

Source: Aljajira

Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.

Context: more than 1,200 self-identified STEM students and workers have signed a pledge to not take jobs or internships at Google or Amazon. Their reason: the companies’ involvement in Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion project which provides cloud computing infrastructure to the Israeli government.

Details
Project Nimbus

• Project Nimbus is an initiative by the Israeli government to establish comprehensive public cloud services for its government ministries and related bodies.
• Announced in April 2021, it involves a partnership with Google and Amazon, who jointly won the bid to deliver these services.
• The primary goal of Project Nimbus is to ensure data sovereignty and prevent the leakage of sensitive information outside Israel's borders by having a public cloud service operating within the country.

Criticisms of Project Nimbus

• Surveillance and Occupation:
  • Enables Israeli surveillance on Palestinians.
  • Facilitates the occupation of Palestinian land.
• Public Opposition:
  • In October 2021, anonymous Google and Amazon workers wrote an opinion piece in The Guardian, demanding withdrawal from Project Nimbus.
  • Workers claimed their products are used to deny Palestinians basic rights, force them out of their homes, and attack Gaza, prompting war crime investigations by the International Criminal Court.
  • No Tech for Apartheid, an activism platform by M Power Change and Jewish Voice for Peace, organized a pledge stating that Project Nimbus makes Israeli apartheid more efficient and deadlier for Palestinians.

Alleged Harm to Palestinians

Investigations by The Intercept:

• Advanced AI Capabilities: Google is providing the Israeli government with AI and machine-learning tools via Google Cloud Platform, including facial detection, automated image categorization, object tracking, and sentiment analysis.
• Military Applications: Israeli government procurement documents reveal that state-owned weapons manufacturers Israel Aerospace Industries and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems are required to use Amazon and Google for cloud computing needs.
• Broader State Use: Cloud customers include entities like the Bank of Israel, the Israel Airports Authority, and the Settlement Division, which facilitates Israeli settlements on Palestinian land.

Responses from Google and Amazon

• Google:
  • Clarified that Nimbus is for workloads on the commercial platform by government ministries in finance, healthcare, transportation, and education.
  • Stated that the work is not directed at military or intelligence services.
• Amazon:
  • Emphasized that the cloud technology benefits all customers, regardless of location.
  • Highlighted their support for employees affected by the war and their work with humanitarian agencies.

Protests and Actions

• April Protests: Google workers associated with No Tech for Apartheid held sit-ins at offices in Silicon Valley, New York City, and Seattle.
• Aftermath: Google subsequently fired 28 employees involved in the protests.

Sources:

IndianExpress