Google DeepMind Staff in UK Oppose Deals with Israel

A growing number of employees at Google DeepMind in the United Kingdom are planning to join a trade union to oppose the company's decision to sell artificial intelligence technologies to defense groups linked to the Israeli government, according to the Financial Times.

The report, citing informed sources, stated that nearly 300 Google DeepMind employees in London have been working for weeks to organize under the Communication Workers Union (CWU). 

Google DeepMind operates as a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google.

Neither Google, Google DeepMind, nor the Communication Workers Union responded to requests for comment from Reuters.

Concerns among staff have escalated following media reports indicating that Google is selling cloud services and artificial intelligence technologies to Israel’s Ministry of Defense. These revelations have triggered fears over the ethical implications of such partnerships.

This is not the first time Google has faced internal dissent regarding its ties to Israel. In 2024, the company terminated 28 employees after protests erupted over a cloud services agreement between Google and the Israeli government.

The employees' move to unionize marks a significant step in a broader wave of activism within the tech industry, where workers are increasingly challenging their companies' involvement in controversial defense and surveillance projects.