No Tech for Apartheid (NOTA), a coalition of tech workers, is urging STEM students and youth workers to reject job offers from Google and Amazon due to the companies’ contracts with the Israeli government. Over 1,100 individuals have pledged to boycott these companies, accusing them of supporting Israel’s apartheid system and genocide against Palestinians. NOTA aims to gather 1,200 signatures for their campaign, known as #NoTechForApartheid.
Google and Amazon won a $1.2 billion contract under Project Nimbus to provide cloud computing, machine learning, and artificial intelligence services to Israel. While a Google spokesperson stated that the contract does not involve military or classified work, campaign supporters are calling for an immediate end to Project Nimbus.
The campaign has gained support from students at prestigious universities such as Stanford, UC Berkeley, the University of San Francisco, and San Francisco State University, all located in close proximity to Google’s headquarters. NOTA has previously organized protests against tech companies assisting Israel, including sit-ins and office takeovers that resulted in Google laying off employees. In March, one of its organizers was fired from Google after disrupting an executive at an Israeli technology conference and speaking out against technology that supports genocide or surveillance.
Overall, NOTA is close to achieving its goal of mobilizing STEM students and youth workers to boycott Google and Amazon for their involvement with the Israeli government. The campaign highlights the power of grassroots movements in holding tech giants accountable for their actions and advocating for social justice.
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https://www.engadget.com/more-than-1000-students-pledge-not-to-work-at-google-and-amazon-due-to-project-nimbus-042439081.html