Amazon took significant steps to enhance security at its New York Amazon Web Services Summit following the disruption caused by activists at the Washington, DC, event protesting Project Nimbus, a cloud computing contract with the Israeli government. The heightened security measures in New York included allowing only approved individuals to attend the keynote speech by Matt Wood, Vice President of AI products at AWS. Activists who had registered online were informed via email that they would not be able to enter the keynote due to space constraints.
Furthermore, a strong presence of private security guards, as well as personnel from the New York Police Department and New York State Police, was evident at the conference. During bag checks, security confiscated posters and flyers from activists, even though not all attendees were subjected to the same scrutiny. This move by Amazon indicates a proactive approach to prevent further dissent, despite the company’s previous statements about respecting employees’ rights to express themselves.
The activists involved in planning the disruption at the AWS Summit are part of No Tech for Apartheid (NOTA), which includes tech workers, organizers from MPower Change, and members of Jewish Voices for Peace. The group has been actively protesting Project Nimbus, with past actions including a sit-in protest at Google. Among those intending to protest at the AWS Summit were former employees from Google, Amazon, and Meta, who have been vocal about their concerns regarding anti-Palestinian censorship and the use of AI-powered tools by the Israeli military.
Google has defended Project Nimbus, stating that it does not involve sensitive or military-related workloads. However, reports have indicated that the Israeli Ministry of Defense has access to the infrastructure, raising questions about the implications of the contract. Amazon, on the other hand, has not directly addressed the planned protests or the increased security measures at the event.
Despite the lack of public acknowledgment from tech companies like Google and Amazon, activists remain determined to continue their advocacy efforts. They believe that raising awareness about the impact of projects like Project Nimbus is crucial in holding these companies accountable for their involvement in potential human rights violations. The activists emphasize the importance of building worker power and maintaining pressure on tech companies to reconsider their partnerships with governments involved in controversial practices.
In conclusion, the heightened security measures at the New York Amazon Web Services Summit underscore the ongoing tensions between tech companies, activists, and concerns about ethical considerations in cloud computing contracts. The actions taken by activists reflect a growing movement to hold tech giants accountable for their involvement in projects with potential humanitarian implications, highlighting the need for greater transparency and ethical standards in the tech industry.
