On 1/31/25 03:59, Roberto C. Sánchez wrote:
Since we as a project have left Twitter/X (as recently announced by our
Publicity Team) on the basis of "We do not want to be present in a place
where we cannot ensure that users will be respected and where abuse
happens without consequences" [0] [1], I would like start a discussion
about how we as a project can promptly sever ties with Google.
Currently, the Debian project has a much closer relationship with Google
than we have ever had with Twitter/X. Google is listed on the Debian
Partners Program page [2], which states:
"Google sponsors parts of Salsa's continuous integration infrastructure
within Google Cloud Platform."
"Google is one of the largest technology companies in the world,
providing a wide range of Internet-related services and products as
online advertising technologies, search, cloud computing, software, and
hardware."
Additionally, Google is a DebConf25 sponsor [3].
Yet, Google has for a long time closely collaborated with the United
States Government, specifically with the Defense and Intellence arms.
This collaboration is no longer something that our project can continue
to turn a blind toward. Just within the last year Google has increased
this collaboration to the point of becoming a full-fledged and
enthusiastic participant in the US defense industrial complex.
2024-04-09: "Google is now authorized to host classified data in the
cloud" [4]
"We're thrilled to announce another significant milestone for Google
Public Sector: the authorization of Google Distributed Cloud Hosted to
host Top Secret and Secret missions for the U.S. Intelligence Community,
and Top Secret missions for the Department of Defense," Leigh Palmer,
the company’s vice president of delivery and operations said at Google
Cloud Next conference in Las Vegas. "This authorization underscores
Google Public Sector's commitment to empowering government agencies with
secure, cutting-edge technology."
2024-04-17: "Google Public Sector ‘hitting our stride’ in government
market, CEO says" [5]
"Being authorized on secret and top secret for the most stringent
government requirements more than anything demonstrates Google's
commitment to this market. I’m so proud of that. You know, I'm a mission
junkie, former Navy officer, this is what I came to Google for: to be
able to deliver on the promise of Google technology and those missions."
This goes far beyond the US Defense and Intellence agencies purchasing
the same mass market products which are available to everyone, far
beyond benign public sector services for education and healthcare.
Google is specifically tailoring products and services, in close
collaboration with the US Defense and Intellence agencies, to
specifically increase the capabilities of those agencies.
Since there are people within the project who will not even travel to
the US because of problematic policies and overreach by the government,
especially by intelligence agencies, it seems highly problematic for us
to continue accepting Google as a sponsor. Especially given the fact
that Google has become a de facto part of the US government, and
especially of its intellegence arm. I feel far more threatened by a
continuing relationship between Debian and Google--knowing that Debian
shares a computing platform and resources with the monsters responsible
for thousands of drone strikes across the world, being responsible for
countless civilian deaths, as well as who knows what other atrocities
both inside the US and across the world--than by our former use of
Twitter/X as a platform for publishing bits of news about the project.
And a continuing relationship between Debian and Google objectively
poses a far greater threat of far greater harm to far more people than
did our former use of Twitter/X.
I am calling for those responsible for the Debian Partners Program to
immediately discontinue the partner relationship with Google and then
for those responsible for managing the various Google-integrated and
Google-hosted Debian services to being the process of divestiture.
Regards,
-Roberto
Hi Roberto,
I largely agree that we should reduce our use of sponsored hosting space
in general, and Google (non-free) cloud platform specifically.
To do this, Debian would need to run its own cloud platform as a
replacement. I've been advocating for it, and volunteered to maintain an
OpenStack cloud deployment for Debian own use.
If you wish that Debian gets out of using Google, engage in this effort,
and find somewhere we can host such a deployment (then Debian can spend
the money for buying the hardware). At this time, I have no clue where
we should go, and I have no time to research it, plus I do not wish to
get my employer involved to avoid any type of conflict of interest.
Cheers,
Thomas Goirand (zigo)
