Google AI engineer Emily M. rejected an $85,000 severance package and filed a charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) last week, alleging the company unfairly sacked her for criticizing its decision to continue supplying AI tech to the Israeli military.
According to Emily M., she was working on a project at Google that aimed to improve the quality of military drones and other weapons systems when she began to raise internal concerns about the company’s involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Google’s Stance on Israeli Military Contracts
Google has faced intense scrutiny in recent years for its involvement in the sale of AI technology to the Israeli military, amid mounting evidence of human rights abuses and war crimes committed by Israeli forces in the occupied territories. In 2020, the company announced that it had ended a contract with the Israeli military, citing concerns about the use of its technology in “conflict zones.” However, it has since reinstated the contract.
Emily M. claims that she spoke out against the decision to continue supplying AI tech to the Israeli military, citing credible research that suggests the use of this technology is facilitating acts of genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people.
Consequences for Speaking Out
Emily M.’s employment with Google was terminated in January, and she was subsequently offered an $85,000 severance package, which she rejected. In a statement, she said: “Our work on AI was sold to facilitate genocide. I will not stand down and allow Google to silence me.”
The NLRB charge alleges that Google’s actions were a clear example of retaliation against an employee for exercising their right to speak out against the company’s policies and actions.
What this means
This case highlights the complex and contentious issue of AI development and deployment, particularly in the context of military technology. It raises important questions about the accountability of tech companies and their role in perpetuating human rights abuses.
As AI technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, companies like Google must be held to account for their actions and decisions. The outcome of this case will have significant implications for employees who speak out against the misuse of AI technology and for the broader tech industry as a whole.
