Google announced this Friday that it will not participate in the Lisbon Web Summit, scheduled for November, according to Paddy Cosgrave’s statements on Israel.
Alphabet, owner of Google and Meta (Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp), follows Intel and Siemens, companies that decided to cancel their presence at the Lisbon Technology Summit, following the comment of the founder and CEO of Web Summit on Israel’s reaction to the October 7 attacks carried out by the Palestinian extremist group Hamas.
The information was provided by Bloomberg and reported that “spokespersons for Google and Meta confirmed this Friday that the companies would not participate in the conference, scheduled for November, in Lisbon”. Google appeared as a partner of the Web Summit, according to the news agency.
Previously, several capital and technology funds decided to withdraw from this year’s event.
Bloomberg also adds that a spokesperson for Stripe, “a longtime sponsor of the Web Summit, also confirmed that Product Director Will Gaybrick and Marketing Director Jeff Titterton” would no longer participate in the Technology Summit.
This includes statements by the founder and CEO of Web Summit, who criticized Israel’s response to Hamas attacks, as well as Western support for Tel Aviv.
On the Social Network. He was also “shocked by the rhetoric and actions of so many Western leaders and governments, with the particular exception of the government of Ireland”.
I am shocked at the rhetoric and actions of so many Western leaders and governments, with the exception of the government of Ireland, who for once are doing the right thing. War crimes are war crimes even when they are committed by allies and should be called out for what they are.
Paddy Cosgrave would eventually apologize after Israel’s ambassador to Portugal, Dor Shapira, announced that he had informed Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas that his country would not participate in the Web Summit Conference.
The Israeli diplomat classified Cosgrave’s statements as “outrageous”.
“Even in these difficult times, he is unable to put aside his extremist political views and denounce Hamas’ terrorist activities against innocent people. Dozens of companies have already canceled their participation in this conference, and we encourage others to do so. Zero tolerance for terrorist and terrorist acts!” wrote the Israeli ambassador to Portugal on social media.
#Lisbon informing him that Israel will not participate in the conference @Websummit Due to outrageous statements made by the conference’s executive director, Paddy Cosgrave.
Even in these difficult times he is unable to…
Faced with the controversy and wave of outrage his statements caused, Web Summit’s founder and CEO released a statement apologizing. “I understand that what I said, the timing in which I said it, and the way it was presented caused great pain to many. To anyone who was hurt by my words, I deeply apologize
Source: DN
