{"id":907878,"date":"2026-05-24T03:12:20","date_gmt":"2026-05-24T08:12:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/24\/google-ai-engineer-claims-dismissal-for-opposing-tech-sales-to-israel\/"},"modified":"2026-05-24T03:12:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-24T08:12:20","slug":"google-ai-engineer-claims-dismissal-for-opposing-tech-sales-to-israel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/24\/google-ai-engineer-claims-dismissal-for-opposing-tech-sales-to-israel\/","title":{"rendered":"Google AI engineer claims dismissal for opposing tech sales to Israel"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"content-header\">\n<h2>\u2018Our work on AI was sold to facilitate genocide\u2019: Artificial intelligence engineer claims Google unfairly sacked them for internally criticising the company\u2019s decision to continue supplying technology to the Israeli military, despite credible claims of war crimes committed in Gaza<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"content-center\">\n<ul>\n<li><i data-icon=\"1\"><\/i><\/li>\n<li><i data-icon=\"2\"><\/i><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"contributors-block\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/rms\/computerweekly\/Sebastian-Klovig-Skelton-CW-contributor.jpg\" alt=\"Sebastian Klovig Skelton\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.techtarget.com\/contributor\/Sebastian-Klovig-Skelton\">Sebastian Klovig Skelton,<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Data &#038; ethics editor<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\n\tPublished: <span>22 May 2026 15:30<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<section id=\"content-body\">\n<p>An artificial intelligence (AI) research engineer is taking legal action against Google, claiming the company unlawfully dismissed them for internally raising concerns about its complicity in war crimes.<\/p>\n<p>The engineer, who worked at Google DeepMind, used internal discussion forums, emails and flyers to question the company\u2019s provision of cloud computing services and AI technologies to Israeli military forces, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/articles\/c8641wv0n4go\">which have been credibly accused of committing genocide in Gaza<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>After <a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/366619039\/Google-drops-pledge-not-to-develop-AI-weapons\">Google dropped its longstanding pledge to not develop AI-powered weapons and surveillance tools in February 2025<\/a>, the engineer also signed a petition \u2013 alongside several hundred colleagues \u2013 calling for the company to reverse this decision.<\/p>\n<p>Following this, the engineer was called into a meeting with Google\u2019s human resources department, where they were \u201cactively discouraged\u201d from making any communications that either criticised the change to Google\u2019s AI principles, or linked the company to Israel\u2019s conduct in Gaza.<\/p>\n<p>Following the engineer\u2019s further dissemination of flyers and posters to colleagues, Google formally dismissed them in September 2025.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGoogle fired me for stating the obvious: our work on AI was sold to facilitate genocide,\u201d said the engineer, who is not sharing their name at this stage.<\/p>\n<p>The legal claim \u2013 which alleges Google engaged in unfair dismissal, discrimination on grounds of belief and whistleblowing detriment \u2013 has been brought against the company in a UK employment tribunal.<\/p>\n<section data-menu-title=\"Legal protections broken\">\n<h2><i data-icon=\"1\"><\/i>Legal protections broken<\/h2>\n<p>The claim specifically states that the engineer was trying to raise the alarm about Google\u2019s failure to comply with legal obligations around the prevention of genocide enshrined in international law, and that the company\u2019s subsequent dismissal of them broke legal protections for whistleblowers.<\/p>\n<p>It also claims that the engineer was discriminated against on the basis of their belief that no one should be complicit in war crimes.<\/p>\n<p>Michael Newman, a lawyer at Leigh Day representing the engineer, said: \u201cNo one should go to work worried that they might be treated less favourably, let alone sacked, for saying that they should not be complicit in war crimes. This will be an important case in showing the protections employees are entitled to for speaking out about their employer\u2019s actions, and use of their products by armies and countries involved in conflict.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Computer Weekly contacted Google about the engineer\u2019s treatment and subsequent legal challenge. \u201cThis account does not accurately reflect the facts, and we will not be commenting further at this time,\u201d a Google DeepMind spokesperson told Computer Weekly.<\/p>\n<p>They added that Google would not terminate an employee for sharing their opinions or engaging in constructive debate in line with their company policies.<\/p>\n<p>In July 2025, the United Nations\u2019 special rapporteur for the human rights situation in Palestine <a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/366626968\/Tech-firms-complicit-in-economy-of-genocide-says-UN-rapporteur\">called for technology firms operating in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories to immediately halt their activities<\/a>, as part of a wider report about the role corporate entities have played in the Israeli state\u2019s ongoing \u201ccrimes of apartheid and genocide\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>The report specifically highlighted how the \u201crepression of Palestinians has become progressively automated\u201d by the increasing supply of powerful military and surveillance technologies to Israel, including drones, AI-powered targeting systems, cloud computing infrastructure, data analytics tools, biometric databases and high-tech weaponry.<\/p>\n<p>It added that if the companies supplying these technologies had conducted the proper\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/366621892\/Tech-sector-still-failing-to-rid-supply-chains-of-forced-labour\">human rights due diligence<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 including Google parent company Alphabet, IBM, Microsoft, Amazon and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/366626673\/Silicon-Valley-execs-sworn-in-to-US-Army-reserves-specialist-unit\">Palantir<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 they would have divested \u201clong ago\u201d from involvement in Israel\u2019s\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/news.un.org\/en\/story\/2024\/09\/1154496\">illegal occupation<\/a>\u00a0of Gaza and the West Bank.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-menu-title=\"Union push\">\n<h2><i data-icon=\"1\"><\/i>Union push<\/h2>\n<p>As part of efforts to end use of Google\u2019s technology by the Israeli and US militaries, a significant number of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/366642677\/Google-AI-workers-vote-to-unionise-over-IDF-and-US-military-tech\">Google DeepMind employees recently launched a unionisation bid<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>On 5 May 2026, the UK-based employees \u2013 who are aiming to become the first frontier AI lab worldwide to unionise \u2013 sent a letter to management requesting recognition with the Communication Workers Union (CWU) and Unite the Union. In a vote of CWU members at DeepMind, 98% backed the move.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGoogle\u2019s staff are right to raise the alarm about the firm\u2019s involvement in conflict,\u201d said Rosa Curling, co-executive director at tech-focused civil society group Foxglove. \u201cYet instead of listening to its employees, Google has sought to silence them.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe engineer Foxglove is supporting tried to alert his colleagues to the terrible consequences of Google\u2019s work for the IDF [Israeli Defence Force],\u201d she said. \u201cTogether with others, he tried to restore the ethical policies on conflict and surveillance which Google abandoned last year.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cInstead of listening to his warnings, the firm hit back against this important act of internal whistleblowing by sacking him. It is little surprise that Google workers are seeking to unionise in the face of the firm\u2019s callous hostility. Google must change course, listen to its employees, and end its support for military forces responsible for war crimes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Google recently agreed to let the US Department of Defense use its AI models for classified work, a move opposed by over 600 employees.<\/p>\n<p>Google staff worry how the technology will be used given the deal could reportedly open the door to autonomous weapons and mass surveillance of US citizens, red-line issues that previously saw the Pentagon impose restrictions on competitor Anthropic.<\/p>\n<p>Google employees have long opposed the company\u2019s sale of cloud technologies to the Israeli government. In September 2022, for example, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/252524426\/Google-workers-oppose-cloud-contract-with-Israeli-government\">Google workers and Palestinian rights activists called<\/a> on the tech giant to end its involvement in the secretive Project Nimbus cloud computing contract, which involves the provision of AI and machine learning tools to the Israeli government.<\/p>\n<p>Before this,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/commentisfree\/2021\/oct\/12\/google-amazon-workers-condemn-project-nimbus-israeli-military-contract\">workers from both Google and Amazon signed a letter<\/a> in Ocotber 2021 condemning their involvement in Project Nimbus, which they claimed \u201callows for further surveillance of and unlawful data collection on Palestinians, and facilitates expansion of Israel\u2019s illegal settlements on Palestinian land\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>The letter was signed by more than 90 Google and 300 Amazon workers, all anonymous, \u201cbecause we fear retaliation\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>A Google spokesperson told Computer Weekly that the company respects every employee\u2019s right to join a union, and that they do not treat employees differently if they do join one.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"DigDeeperSplash\">\n<h4>\n\t\t\t<i data-icon=\"m\"><\/i>Read more on Artificial intelligence, automation and robotics<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><a id=\"DigDeeperItem-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/366642677\/Google-AI-workers-vote-to-unionise-over-IDF-and-US-military-tech\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/German\/article\/revolution-protest-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/German\/article\/revolution-protest-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg 960w,https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/German\/article\/revolution-protest-adobe.jpg 1280w\" alt ><\/p>\n<h5>Google AI workers vote to unionise over IDF and US military tech<\/h5>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/rms\/computerweekly\/Antony-Adshead-April26-140x180px.jpg\" alt=\"AntonyAdshead\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By: <span>Antony\u00a0Adshead<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a id=\"DigDeeperItem-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/366640417\/Health-workers-call-for-Palantir-to-be-booted-from-NHS-contracts\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/HeroImages\/digital-healthcare-TripleP-Studio-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/HeroImages\/digital-healthcare-TripleP-Studio-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg 960w,https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/HeroImages\/digital-healthcare-TripleP-Studio-adobe.jpg 1280w\" alt ><\/p>\n<h5>Health workers call for Palantir to be booted from NHS contracts<\/h5>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/rms\/computerweekly\/Sebastian-Klovig-Skelton-CW-contributor.jpg\" alt=\"SebastianKlovig Skelton\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By: <span>Sebastian\u00a0Klovig Skelton<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a id=\"DigDeeperItem-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/366639200\/European-politicians-amplify-disinformation-about-UN-rapporteur\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/rms\/computerweekly\/disinformation-fake-news-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/rms\/computerweekly\/disinformation-fake-news-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg 960w,https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/rms\/computerweekly\/disinformation-fake-news-adobe.jpg 1280w\" alt ><\/p>\n<h5>European politicians amplify disinformation about UN rapporteur<\/h5>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/rms\/computerweekly\/Sebastian-Klovig-Skelton-CW-contributor.jpg\" alt=\"SebastianKlovig Skelton\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By: <span>Sebastian\u00a0Klovig Skelton<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a id=\"DigDeeperItem-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/366636283\/Top-10-technology-ethics-stories-of-2025\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero Images\/police-car-blue-lights-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero%20Images\/police-car-blue-lights-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg 960w,https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero%20Images\/police-car-blue-lights-adobe.jpeg 1280w\" alt ><\/p>\n<h5>Top 10 technology ethics stories of 2025<\/h5>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/rms\/computerweekly\/Sebastian-Klovig-Skelton-CW-contributor.jpg\" alt=\"SebastianKlovig Skelton\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By: <span>Sebastian\u00a0Klovig Skelton<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/366643389\/Google-AI-engineer-dismissed-for-opposing-tech-sales-to-Israel\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><br \/>\n Randy Mayoral<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u2018Our work on AI was sold to facilitate genocide\u2019: Artificial intelligence engineer claims Google unfairly sacked them for internally criticising the company\u2019s decision to continue supplying technology to the Israeli military, despite credible claims of war crimes committed in Gaza By Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data &amp; ethics editor Published: 22 May 2026 15:30 An artificial<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":907879,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27112,496,46],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-907878","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-engineer","8":"category-google","9":"category-technology"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/907878","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=907878"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/907878\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/907879"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=907878"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=907878"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=907878"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}