Google: Further controversy rises around project nimbus

Mar 23, 2022 | Posted by MadalineDunn

Controversy continues to envelop Project Nimbus, with fresh allegations made against Google in its handling of dissenting employees. Project Nimbus is a contract that both Google and Amazon (AWS) have with the Israeli government to provide its agencies with cloud services. Since its announcement, a number of Amazon and Google employees have spoken out and protested against the $1.2-billion deal, citing the human rights violations and discrimination committed by the Israeli government against Palestinian citizens.

One worker who voiced her opposition against the project, Ariel Koren, a product marketing manager at Google for Education, has allegedly been pushed out of her role at Google in an act of unjust retaliation. Over 500 workers at the company have now signed a petition against Google, which elaborates on Google's "dangerous" track record of "worker retaliation," which it said has been directed specifically at those speaking out against contracts that "enable state violence against marginalized people." 

According to The LA Times, after Koren expressed her opposition to the company's controversial contract, she was faced with an ultimatum: ​move to Sao Paulo, Brazil, or lose her position - a decision she had 17 business days to make. 

Despite filing a complaint with Google's HR department, and an unfair labor practice complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, Google continues to deny the allegation that it retaliated. In an emailed statement to the LA Times, Google spokesperson Shannon Newberry, said: "Everyone must be treated with respect at Google. We prohibit retaliation in the workplace and publicly share our very clear policy." Adding:"We take employee concerns seriously."

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