Project Nimbus: technology threatens the rights of Palestinians
As the world strives for peace and justice in the Middle East, tech giants such as Google and Amazon Web Services continue to support the Israeli occupation by providing cloud services to the Israeli government and military. This technology, known as Project Nimbus, allows for more surveillance and illegal data collection on Palestinians, and facilitates the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land. In this article, we will review what Project Nimbus is, what negative effects it has on the rights of Palestinians, and what resistance is being carried out by technologists and activists for the rights of Palestinians.
What is Project Nimbus?
Project Nimbus is a USD 1.2 billion contract to provide cloud services to the Israeli government and military. Google and Amazon Web Services are participating in this contract. According to The Intercept website, this contract aims to "improve the technological capabilities of the Israeli government and turn it into an advanced digital government". The contract is expected to last for eight years, starting in 2024.
However, this technology is not only a tool for improving the efficiency of the Israeli government, but also a tool for increasing human rights violations of Palestinians. According to the electronic Unifada website, the IDF uses cloud services to operate a huge surveillance system called the "national platform", which collects and analyzes data on Palestinians from various sources, such as cameras, satellites, mobile phones and social media. This data is used to identify, track and target Palestinians whom the IDF considers to be "suspects", "wanted" or "dangerous". This data is also used to plan and carry out arrests, killings, demolitions, confiscations and displacements.
In addition, cloud services are helping the IDF expand illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian territory. According to The Guardian website, the IDF uses artificial intelligence algorithms to analyze aerial and satellite images of Palestinian areas, identify vacant or undeveloped land, and allocate it for the construction of Israeli settlements. This process violates international law and UN resolutions, and threatens the right of Palestinians to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state.
What are the negative effects of Project Nimbus on the rights of Palestinians
Project Nimbus poses a serious threat to the rights of Palestinians to life, freedom, dignity, privacy, property and development. This technology enables the Israeli occupation to exert more violence, oppression, discrimination and colonialism on Palestinians, depriving them of their basic human rights. Some examples of the negative effects of Project Nimbus on the rights of Palestinians are:
- Physical violations: Project Nimbus facilitates the Israeli army to arbitrarily and illegally kill, injure, arrest, kidnap and torture Palestinians. According to Amnesty International, the IDF killed more than 200 Palestinians, injured more than 8,000, and arrested more than 4,000 in 2023 alone. The Israeli army also uses excessive force, live ammunition, gas and rubber bombs against peaceful Palestinian demonstrators, resulting in serious injuries and permanent disabilities.
- Psychological violations: Project Nimbus causes Palestinians fear, anxiety, depression, shock and frustration. Palestinians live under a state of censorship, espionage and threats
- - Social violations: Project Nimbus isolates and separates Palestinians from each other and from the outside world. Palestinians face difficulties in communication, mobility, education, work, recreation, culture and religion. The IDF uses cloud services to impose sieges, barricades, barricades and barriers on Palestinians, preventing them from accessing basic services, natural resources and religious shrines. The IDF also uses cloud services to monitor, block, delete and distort Palestinian content on social media, preventing Palestinians from expressing their opinions, sharing their stories and documenting their violations.
- Economic violations: Project Nimbus harms the Palestinian economy and increases poverty, unemployment and dependence. Palestinians are losing their sources of income, property and land due to seizure, demolition, confiscation and displacement. The IDF uses cloud services to disrupt, destroy, and confiscate Palestinian infrastructure, projects, and facilities, preventing Palestinians from accessing opportunities, resources, finance, and trade. The IDF also uses cloud services to impose taxes, fees, fines and confiscations on Palestinians, preventing them from obtaining exemptions, compensation and subsidies.
What is the resistance that tech workers and activists are doing for the rights of Palestinians
Project Nimbus is not accepted and approved by everyone, but faces criticism, objections and protests from technology workers and activists for the rights of Palestinians. These people reject that the technologies they are building or using will be used to support the Israeli occupation and the violation of the rights of Palestinians, and they demand that technology companies terminate their contracts with the Israeli army and abide by values and ethics. Some examples of resistance carried out by technologists and activists for the rights of Palestinians are:
- Media campaigns: technology workers and activists for Palestinian Rights use social media, the internet and the press to spread and sensitize the public about the reality of Project Nimbus and its effects on Palestinians. These people publish articles, reports, investigations, testimonies, photos and videos revealing violations and crimes committed by the IDF using cloud services. They also publish data, facts, figures and statistics that show the size, scope and extent of Project Nimbus and its contracts. They also publish letters, claims, memos, petitions and referendums calling for the cancellation, boycott or accountability of Project Nimbus and its participants.
- Mass protests: technology workers and activists for Palestinian rights organize protests, demonstrations, stoppages, strikes, sit-ins and marches at the offices, headquarters and branches of technology companies participating in Project Nimbus. These people are holding banners, slogans, banners, posters and clothes expressing their rejection and condemnation of Project Nimbus and their solidarity with the Palestinians. They also chant chants, slogans, songs, poetry and words denouncing Project Nimbus and demanding its end and the liberation of Palestine.
- Legal and Political Action: technology workers and activists for Palestinian rights are taking legal and political action to prevent, challenge or cancel Project Nimbus and its contracts. These persons submit complaints, suits, cases, appeals and petitions to courts, legal and human rights bodies and international organizations, such as the UN, the EU, the
- - Legal and political work: technology workers and activists for Palestinian rights are doing legal and political work to prevent, challenge or cancel Project Nimbus and its contracts. These people submit complaints, lawsuits, cases, appeals and petitions to international legal and human rights courts, bodies and organizations, such as the United Nations, the European Union and the International Court of Justice, demanding to condemn and hold accountable the Israeli army and technology companies for their violations of international law and Human Rights. They also communicate, cooperate and coordinate with politicians, legislators, organizations, movements and civil societies at home and abroad, demanding the issuance, adoption and implementation of laws, resolutions, sanctions and initiatives aimed at stopping, preventing and boycotting Project Nimbus and its contracts.
Conclusion
Project Nimbus is a huge and dangerous technology project that supports the Israeli occupation and violates the rights of Palestinians. This project uses cloud services to enable the IDF to further monitor, spy, target and expand at the expense of Palestinians. This project poses a serious threat to the rights of Palestinians to life, freedom, dignity, privacy, property and development. This project is facing criticism, objections and protests from technology workers and activists for the rights of Palestinians, who reject that the technologies they are building or using are used to support the Israeli occupation, and demand that technology companies terminate their contracts with the Israeli army and abide by values and ethics. We call on all readers and those interested in technology, justice and peace to raise awareness, solidarity and participate in this resistance, contribute to the end of Project Nimbus and the liberation of Palestine.
