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Google finds itself in an internal crisis after firing an employee who spoke out against Israeli technology projects, fueling further debate about the company’s role in contract disputes and conflicts in the Middle East.
“I’m not willing to create technology that causes murder,” a Google Cloud expert protested during the opening speech of the event in New York. This action resulted in the engineer being fired, highlighting Google’s ongoing efforts. managing internal struggle.
The debate has not stopped. Ahead of the International Women’s Day conference, Google’s internal messages were filled with comments about the company’s military contract with Israel, which led to the company being shut down for “content separate.”
Google’s involvement in the military, including a $1.2 billion intelligence deal with the Israeli government, has sparked internal controversy since at least 2018. The impending conflict in the Middle East will only increase tensions at the company.
More than 600 Google employees signed a letter asking management to withdraw support from technology conferences in Israel and expressing employees’ concerns.
In addition, internal doubts about the response of Google’s artificial intelligence chatbot Gemini to the human rights crisis in Gaza have also increased the conflict. . Authorities also questioned whether the company knew Mai Ubeid, who was reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike.
In response to the internal discussion, a Google spokesperson emphasized the company’s commitment to hosting events in an inclusive manner but noted that “isolated content” would be removed from internal forums.
The employee strike and subsequent shutdown of internal meetings underscores the challenges Google faces with politics and leadership among its employees.