Google urged to abandon Saudi cloud project
Google urged to abandon Saudi cloud project
Dozens of campaign organizations have urged Google to abandon a cloud computing project in Saudi Arabia, claiming the company risks being "complicit in future human rights violations."
Late last year, Google announced plans to establish a "cloud region" in Saudi Arabia in collaboration with Saudi Aramco. Google (GOOGL) stated that the services included in its agreement with the colossal state oil company would enable businesses in the region to "confidently grow and scale their offerings."
However, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have criticized the deal, citing concerns raised in the aftermath of journalist Jamal Khashoggi's assassination in 2018 and allegations that Saudi Arabia uses cyber tools to spy on dissidents.
"There are numerous potential human rights risks associated with the establishment of a Google Cloud region in Saudi Arabia, including violations of the rights to privacy, freedom of expression and association, nondiscrimination, and due process," the groups stated in a statement on Wednesday.
Google's (GOOGL) response to a request for comment was delayed. However, Human Rights Watch published a response from the US technology giant in which it stated that an independent human rights assessment was conducted for its cloud project in Saudi Arabia and that the company "took steps to address issues identified during that review."
The rights groups want Google to conduct "meaningful consultations with potentially impacted groups, including human rights organizations from the region," as part of the review process, and to publish the results. Additionally, they want Google to specify how it will respond to Saudi government requests that are "incompatible with human rights standards."
Google Cloud lost money last year, but its revenue is growing rapidly
Google Cloud lost money last year, but its revenue is growing rapidly. With $13 billion in revenue last year, up from nearly $9 billion in 2019, the unit now accounts for more than 20% of the company's total revenue.
Saudi Arabia has courted large technology companies as part of its Vision 2030 economic reform initiative, which is being led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, dubbed "MBS." However, many firms withdrew after Khashoggi was brutally murdered by Saudi agents inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.
The crown prince has denied ordering Khashoggi's assassination but has admitted responsibility.
"This was a heinous crime," he told CBS in a 2019 interview. "However, as a leader in Saudi Arabia, I accept full responsibility, especially given that it was committed by individuals working for the Saudi government."
The rights groups cited concerns about Saudi Arabia's "extensive track record of attempting to spy on its own citizens" and US prosecutors' allegations in 2019 that two former Twitter employees used their access to the social media giant to gather sensitive and nonpublic information on Saudi dissidents.
"The Saudi government has repeatedly demonstrated a flagrant disregard for human rights, both through direct actions against human rights defenders and through spying on corporate digital platforms to accomplish the same thing," the activists wrote in their statement.
"We are concerned that by collaborating with the Saudi government, Google will become complicit in future human rights violations affecting people in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East," they added.
CNN Business has reached out to the Saudi government and Saudi Aramco for comment.
Bin Salman stated in the CBS interview that the perception that Saudi Arabia does not support human rights, particularly those of women, is incorrect.
"This perception is distressing to me. It irritates me when some people view the image through a very narrow lens "The crown prince stated. "I hope that everyone visits the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and sees for themselves the reality, meets women and Saudi citizens, and forms their own opinions."
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