Google provides cloud computing services to the Israeli Ministry of Defense, and a recent document reveals that the tech giant has negotiated to deepen its partnership during Israel’s conflict with Gaza. The Ministry of Defense has its own secure entry point into Google Cloud, allowing them to store and process data and access AI services. The ministry sought consulting assistance from Google to expand its access to Google Cloud, with the contract showing Google billing over $1 million for the service.
The draft contract dated March 27, 2024, shows that the Ministry of Defense requested consulting services from Google to enable “multiple units” to access automation technologies. Although the version of the contract viewed by TIME was not signed, a Google employee’s comment on the document indicated that signatures would be completed offline as part of an “Israel/Nimbus deal.” Google also offered the ministry a 15% discount on the consulting fees as part of the “Nimbus framework.”
Project Nimbus is a $1.2 billion cloud computing and AI agreement between the Israeli government, Google, and Amazon. Reports suggest that Google and Amazon are contractually prohibited from preventing specific arms of the Israeli state from using their technology under Project Nimbus. This contract with the Israeli Ministry of Defense marks the first public acknowledgment that Google Cloud is working with the Israeli government, although Google has stated that their work with the Israeli government is primarily for civilian purposes.
Google has emphasized that the Nimbus contract is focused on workloads running on their commercial platform for Israeli government ministries in areas such as finance and healthcare. While Google’s work with the Israeli Ministry of Defense has raised concerns regarding potential involvement in military operations, the tech giant maintains that its services are intended for civilian use. The contract with the Ministry of Defense demonstrates the growing partnership between Google Cloud and the Israeli government, particularly in the realm of cloud computing and artificial intelligence.
The deepening partnership between Google Cloud and the Israeli Ministry of Defense highlights the increasing reliance on technology for military and defense purposes. The use of cloud computing and AI technologies in warfare raises ethical and security concerns, especially in conflict zones like Gaza. As tech companies like Google expand their services to government entities, questions around accountability, transparency, and compliance with international laws and human rights standards become more pressing. The contract between Google and the Israeli Ministry of Defense underscores the complex intersection of technology, defense, and geopolitics in the modern digital age.
