Alphabet’s Google and Meta Platforms have joined a growing number of companies and investors in withdrawing from the Web Summit technology conference after conference leaders made comments about Israel earlier this week.
Spokespersons for Google and Meta confirmed on Friday that the companies would not attend the meeting originally scheduled for November in Lisbon. Google was previously listed as an event partner for the conference.Intel Corporation and Siemens Announce similar decisions after thursday A large number of venture capitalists In Israel, the United States and Europe pulled out of the campaign.
A spokesman for Stripe Inc., a long-time Web Summit sponsor, also confirmed Friday that the company will no longer attend the conference. Chief Product Officer Will Gaybrick and Chief Marketing Officer Jeff Titterton were previously scheduled to attend the event.
Internet Summit director Paddy Cosgrave canceled the events. critical After Hamas attacks, the West supported Israel on social media. “A war crime is a war crime, even if committed by an ally,” he said of Israel’s response to the attack.
Cosgrave later issued an apology, writing Internet Summit website“I know that what I said, the timing of it and the way I said it caused deep hurt to many people.”
A group of Israeli investors issued a joint statement calling for a boycott of the event.
Summit Network had no immediate comment.
In addition to attracting technology companies and investors, the Internet Summit has hosted several important political speakers in the past. Portugal’s Economy Minister Antonio Costa Silva has confirmed his attendance this year, the Ministry of Economy said in an email on Friday. German Deputy Chancellor Robert Habeck is listed as November’s keynote speaker. German government representatives said the country was still weighing whether to participate.
Representatives for Amazon, which also plans to send senior executives to the online summit, did not respond to a request for comment.
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