Google's $32bn Purchase of Israeli Company Founded by Unit 8200 Veterans: 'Playing with Fire'
Google employees and human rights groups have raised concerns about the tech giant’s purchase of an Israeli start-up in an unprecedented $32bn deal.
On Tuesday, Google announced the all-cash acquisition of Wiz, an Israeli cloud security firm founded by former members of Unit 8200, an elite Israeli army cyber-espionage and surveillance unit.
The deal comes as Google is already facing internal and external pressure over its controversial Project Nimbus contract, through which, along with Amazon, it provides cloud computing and AI services to the Israeli government and military.
A spokesperson for No Tech for Apartheid, a coalition of Google and Amazon workers campaigning against the companies' involvement with Israel, said Google was "playing with fire" by buying Wiz.
"Instead of heeding workers’ calls to divest, Google is doubling down by investing in the colonial, racist, apartheid project of the so-called Israeli state. Google workers vehemently oppose this investment and continue to reject Project Nimbus."
The spokesperson accused Google’s leadership of being “all too eager to establish the company as the backbone of the US-Israeli war machine” and described the acquisition of Wiz as a "performative overture" toward former US President Donald Trump.
Last year, Google fired dozens of employees after they staged a series of sit-in protests across the US to oppose Project Nimbus, including demonstrations in New York and at Google’s offices in Sunnyvale, California.
Insiders have said the dismissals had a chilling effect within Google, with many employees scaling back their protests.
Google had previously tried to acquire Wiz last year, but the company, which has offices in New York and Tel Aviv, turned down its $23bn offer at the time.
Wiz was co-founded in 2020 by the company's current chief executive, Assaf Rappaport, and three other former members of Unit 8200, whom Rappaport, 41, is reported to have met on his first day of military service in 2001.
Since Trump’s election, Google and other tech companies have been vying for influence with the White House.
Unit 8200 Alumni
In February, Google dropped its pledge not to use artificial intelligence for purposes such as developing weapons and surveillance tools.
Anna Bacciarelli, a senior researcher in Human Rights Watch’s Technology Rights and Investigations division, said Google appeared to be deepening its ties to the Trump administration and Israel by prioritizing AI for national security.
"The acquisition of Wiz, a cybersecurity firm founded by ex-members of Unit 8200, further entrenches Google’s stakes in AI-driven military technology," she said, referring to Unit 8200's involvement in mass surveillance and rights abuses against Palestinians.
"Unit 8200 has developed and deployed mass surveillance and technology systems that are incompatible with human rights. Google’s investment in Unit 8200 alumni raises serious concerns about its potential complicity in human rights abuses."
'The acquisition of a company that will further bolster projects like Nimbus only heightens the risk of exacerbating Israel's system of apartheid and repression'
Matt Mahmoudi, Amnesty International
She described Google’s acquisition of Wiz as a "calculated business move" aimed at entrenching the company’s "dominance over cloud infrastructure by consolidating its power in ways that make accountability much harder".
"Google has been expanding its cloud presence in the Middle East in recent years, serving as a cloud provider for government services in countries such as the UAE and Kuwait, and partnering with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
"Google is openly prioritising AI for national security, deepening its ties with the US government and Israel. Project Nimbus - its cloud contract with Israel, shared with Amazon - directly enables military operations."
Google employees and human rights groups have raised concerns about the tech giant’s purchase of an Israeli start-up in an unprecedented $32bn deal.
On Tuesday, Google announced the all-cash acquisition of Wiz, an Israeli cloud security firm founded by former members of Unit 8200, an elite Israeli army cyber-espionage and surveillance unit.
The deal comes as Google is already facing internal and external pressure over its controversial Project Nimbus contract, through which, along with Amazon, it provides cloud computing and AI services to the Israeli government and military.
A spokesperson for No Tech for Apartheid, a coalition of Google and Amazon workers campaigning against the companies' involvement with Israel, said Google was "playing with fire" by buying Wiz.
"Instead of heeding workers’ calls to divest, Google is doubling down by investing in the colonial, racist, apartheid project of the so-called Israeli state. Google workers vehemently oppose this investment and continue to reject Project Nimbus."
The spokesperson accused Google’s leadership of being “all too eager to establish the company as the backbone of the US-Israeli war machine” and described the acquisition of Wiz as a "performative overture" toward former US President Donald Trump.
Last year, Google fired dozens of employees after they staged a series of sit-in protests across the US to oppose Project Nimbus, including demonstrations in New York and at Google’s offices in Sunnyvale, California.
Insiders have said the dismissals had a chilling effect within Google, with many employees scaling back their protests.
Google had previously tried to acquire Wiz last year, but the company, which has offices in New York and Tel Aviv, turned down its $23bn offer at the time.
Wiz was co-founded in 2020 by the company's current chief executive, Assaf Rappaport, and three other former members of Unit 8200, whom Rappaport, 41, is reported to have met on his first day of military service in 2001.
Since Trump’s election, Google and other tech companies have been vying for influence with the White House.
Unit 8200 Alumni
In February, Google dropped its pledge not to use artificial intelligence for purposes such as developing weapons and surveillance tools.
Anna Bacciarelli, a senior researcher in Human Rights Watch’s Technology Rights and Investigations division, said Google appeared to be deepening its ties to the Trump administration and Israel by prioritizing AI for national security.
"The acquisition of Wiz, a cybersecurity firm founded by ex-members of Unit 8200, further entrenches Google’s stakes in AI-driven military technology," she said, referring to Unit 8200's involvement in mass surveillance and rights abuses against Palestinians.
"Unit 8200 has developed and deployed mass surveillance and technology systems that are incompatible with human rights. Google’s investment in Unit 8200 alumni raises serious concerns about its potential complicity in human rights abuses."
'The acquisition of a company that will further bolster projects like Nimbus only heightens the risk of exacerbating Israel's system of apartheid and repression'
Matt Mahmoudi, Amnesty International
She described Google’s acquisition of Wiz as a "calculated business move" aimed at entrenching the company’s "dominance over cloud infrastructure by consolidating its power in ways that make accountability much harder".
"Google has been expanding its cloud presence in the Middle East in recent years, serving as a cloud provider for government services in countries such as the UAE and Kuwait, and partnering with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
"Google is openly prioritising AI for national security, deepening its ties with the US government and Israel. Project Nimbus - its cloud contract with Israel, shared with Amazon - directly enables military operations."
Matt Mahmoudi, a researcher on AI and human rights for Amnesty International, echoed Bacciarelli's concerns and said the inclusion of a company dominated by Unit 8200 veterans was "deeply concerning".
"Google once upheld AI principles and even operationalised the 'don't be evil' mantra. But those commitments have been systematically eroded - particularly with the development of AI-driven weaponry and military applications,"
"Despite clear warnings from human rights experts that these technologies could contribute to genocide, Google continues its engagement with Israeli authorities, showing a blatant disregard for international human rights law.
"The acquisition of a company that will further bolster projects like Nimbus only heightens the risk of exacerbating Israel's system of apartheid and repression."
#Google@GhostPrincess
"Google once upheld AI principles and even operationalised the 'don't be evil' mantra. But those commitments have been systematically eroded - particularly with the development of AI-driven weaponry and military applications,"
"Despite clear warnings from human rights experts that these technologies could contribute to genocide, Google continues its engagement with Israeli authorities, showing a blatant disregard for international human rights law.
"The acquisition of a company that will further bolster projects like Nimbus only heightens the risk of exacerbating Israel's system of apartheid and repression."
#Google@GhostPrincess
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Protests escalate throughout TĂĽrkiye.
Students took to the streets more than 20 universities across 9 cities following the detention of Ä°stanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem Ä°mamoglu, demanding academic freedom, respect for the electoral will and democratic rights.
#TĂĽrkiye@GhostPrincess
Students took to the streets more than 20 universities across 9 cities following the detention of Ä°stanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem Ä°mamoglu, demanding academic freedom, respect for the electoral will and democratic rights.
#TĂĽrkiye@GhostPrincess
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Waves of protests are spreading across university campuses in TĂĽrkiye following the arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem Ä°mamoÄźlu, ErdoÄźan's main rival, just days before he was to be nominated as a presidential candidate.
Ä°mamoÄźlu's arrest on March 19 came a day after Istanbul University revoked his diploma, citing irregularities. But students aren't convinced.
#TĂĽrkiye@GhostPrincess
Ä°mamoÄźlu's arrest on March 19 came a day after Istanbul University revoked his diploma, citing irregularities. But students aren't convinced.
#TĂĽrkiye@GhostPrincess
❤4
𓂆 Princess™
Protests escalate throughout Türkiye. Students took to the streets more than 20 universities across 9 cities following the detention of İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoglu, demanding academic freedom, respect for the electoral will and…
This video is the property of the Ghost Princess channel, created and managed by the Ghost Princess team. It is intended solely for positive purposes and to support university students in Turkey. Unauthorized use for propaganda related to Israel, the US, Europe, or Kurdish causes is prohibited. Copyright protected.
𓂆 Princess™
Waves of protests are spreading across university campuses in Türkiye following the arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, Erdoğan's main rival, just days before he was to be nominated as a presidential candidate. İmamoğlu's arrest on March 19 came a day…
This video is the property of the Ghost Princess channel, created and managed by the Ghost Princess team. It is intended solely for positive purposes and to support university students in Turkey. Unauthorized use for propaganda related to Israel, the US, Europe, or Kurdish causes is prohibited. Copyright protected.
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