Google and Amazon’s $1.2 billion Project Nimbus cloud computing agreement with the Israeli government has drawn sharp criticism from advocacy groups, employees, and human rights organizations.
Documents reveal that the contract is governed by “Adjusted Terms of Service,” crafted specifically for the Israeli government, instead of the companies’ standard terms. Critics argue these modifications reduce oversight, allowing the technology to be used for contentious state activities, including military operations and surveillance.
This deal provides the Israeli government with powerful artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud services, raising concerns about the role of technology in deepening existing inequalities. Activists and employees are calling for greater transparency and accountability from Google and Amazon.
Unilateral Terms and Oversight Challenges
Internal communications reveal that Project Nimbus includes terms granting the Israeli government significant autonomy over the contract.
In a December 2020 email, Google lawyer Edward du Boulay stated: “If Google wins the competition, we will need to accept a non-negotiable contract on terms favorable to the government.”
He emphasized that Israel would have “unilateral right to impose contract changes,” and warned that the arrangement would leave Google with “almost no ability to sue [Israel] for damages.”
These revelations conflict with Google’s public assurances that the contract adheres to its Acceptable Use Policy, which prohibits harm and ensures compliance with ethical standards. However, the internal documents suggest a significant departure from these stated policies.
Human Rights Implications of Project Nimbus
Human rights organizations have strongly condemned Project Nimbus for enabling technology that allegedly supports human rights abuses.
In a detailed submission to the United Nations, the Abolitionist Law Center stated: “Pursuant to a $1.2 billion contract known as ‘Project Nimbus,’ AWS and Google Cloud provide cloud computing and other advanced technological services that the Israeli government and military have relied upon to kill, segregate, and immiserate Palestinians.” The report highlighted the use of cloud infrastructure in “scorched-earth targeting of civilians and civilian property in the Gaza Strip.”
Sadaf Doost, the center’s International Human Rights Program Manager, further elaborated: “Amazon and Google equip the Israeli government and military with the infrastructure to target and kill Palestinians in Gaza, and further advance Israel’s military occupation and apartheid in the occupied Palestinian territory in violation of customary international law.”
Internal Employee Protests Highlight Ethical Concerns
Employee-led initiatives, such as No Tech for Apartheid, have intensified calls for corporate accountability. In a public statement, employees accused Google executives of obscuring the implications of Project Nimbus: “Amazon and Google are enabling the world’s first AI-powered genocide via Project Nimbus. Despite overwhelming evidence supporting this claim, Google executives continue to lie to us, the company’s own workers, about the true nature of the Project Nimbus contract.”
The employees called for an end to the contract, emphasizing the moral consequences of their work: “We call all Google and Amazon workers of conscience to join us in ensuring our labor does not power genocide and state violence.”
Calls for Transparency From Advocacy Groups
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has urged Google and Amazon to disclose the scope of Project Nimbus and provide evidence of risk assessments and safeguards. In its statement, EFF highlighted the urgency of the issue: “Transparency is not a luxury when human rights are at risk—it’s an ethical and legal obligation. Amazon and Google must provide evidence of due diligence and measures taken to mitigate harm linked to their technologies.”
EFF also outlined the broader human rights implications: “Vulnerable communities in Gaza and the West Bank suffer violations of their human rights, including their rights to privacy, freedom of movement, and free association. These documented violations underscore the ethical responsibility of Amazon and Google, whose technologies are at the heart of this surveillance scheme.”
Despite these calls, both companies have remained largely silent, prompting further criticism from advocacy groups and employees alike.
Broader Implications and Corporate Responsibility
The financial scale of Project Nimbus underscores its significance for both companies. Amazon Web Services (AWS) generated $90 billion in revenue in 2023, while Google Cloud reported $33 billion. However, these profits stand in stark contrast to the economic realities in Gaza, where over 74% of the population is projected to live in poverty due to blockades and military actions.
Critics argue that Project Nimbus exemplifies the ethical dilemmas of technology in geopolitics. Advocacy groups continue to press Google and Amazon to reassess their involvement and prioritize ethical considerations over profit.
