Thomas Goirand <[email protected]> wrote on 31/01/2025 at 13:46:57+0100:
> 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. The thing is, having a cloud platform, hosting it and maintaining costs plenty money that we don't really have. -- PEB
