Google DeepMind UK Workers Vote 98% to Unionize Over Pentagon and Israeli Military AI Deals

Wired / Hacker News·high signal

Google DeepMind employees in London voted 98% to unionize via the CWU after Google agreed to let the US Department of Defense use Gemini AI models inside classified military networks for 'any lawful purpose.' The union is demanding Google pull out of its Israeli military contract, commit to not developing weapons or surveillance AI, provide whistleblower protections, and grant employees the right to abstain from ethically objectionable work. Google has 10 working days to voluntarily recognize the union or face a formal legal process covering ~1,000 London staff.