On June 14, 2026, around 200 students walked out of Stanford University’s commencement ceremony while Google CEO Sundar Pichai was delivering his address, in a protest against the tech giant’s government and military-related contracts.
Demonstrators criticized Google, pointing to the company’s ties to Israeli military cloud services through Project Nimbus and ICE. Video from the ceremony shows graduates leaving their seats as Pichai began speaking, carrying P*lestinian flags and chanting before gathering outside the venue.
Later, students attended an alternative “People’s Commencement” where speakers expressed opposition to the involvement of major technology companies in state surveillance programs and military technologies.
About the Author
