Amazon has heightened security measures at its New York Amazon Web Services Summit following recent protests against its $1.2 billion cloud computing contract with the Israeli government. The increased security was in response to activists’ plans to disrupt the event and voice their opposition to Project Nimbus, a collaboration between Amazon, Google, and Israel.
The activists, who had registered online to attend the summit, were informed via email that they would not be permitted to attend the keynote address due to space constraints. Despite this, some activists managed to enter the building, where security confiscated their protest materials during bag checks.
In an attempt to prevent further disruptions, Amazon enforced strict security protocols, only allowing approved individuals to attend the keynote speech. Private security guards, as well as personnel from the New York Police Department and New York State Police, were present at the event to maintain order.
Amazon has emphasized its commitment to allowing employees to express their opinions freely, but the heightened security at the summit signals the company’s efforts to prevent further dissent. Google also took disciplinary action against employees who protested against its cloud-computing contract with the Israeli government.
The activists behind the planned disruptions are affiliated with organizations such as No Tech for Apartheid (NOTA), MPower Change, and Jewish Voices for Peace. They had previously organized protests against Project Nimbus and other actions aimed at raising awareness about the issue.
Former tech workers, including former Google employees Zelda Montes and Hasan Ibraheem, who were among the 50 employees fired after a protest, had planned to disrupt the keynote speech. Other activists stood outside the summit distributing flyers and holding banners with messages condemning the collaboration between tech companies and the Israeli government.
The activists’ efforts to protest against Project Nimbus highlight the growing concerns among tech workers and advocacy groups about the ethical implications of such partnerships. The increased security measures put in place by Amazon underscore the challenges faced by those seeking to voice their opposition to these collaborations.
