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Google calls allegations of ‘secret code’ in international cloud services deal ‘absurd’

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**Google and Amazon’s $1.2 Billion Project Nimbus Cloud Deal with Israel Includes Controversial “Secret Code” Payments, Reports Say**

*C. Scott Brown / Android Authority*

In 2021, Google and Amazon entered into a $1.2 billion agreement with the Israeli government to provide cloud computing services to various government agencies and the military under a contract known as Project Nimbus. New reporting released today reveals that this lucrative deal reportedly includes some unusual and eyebrow-raising terms.

According to an investigation by The Guardian, based on leaked documents from Israel’s Ministry of Finance and collaborated with Hebrew-language publication Local Call and Israeli-Palestinian outlet +972 Magazine, Google and Amazon agreed to send “coded messages” to the Israeli government. These messages allegedly serve to covertly inform Israel when their cloud data has been accessed by foreign investigative bodies, while potentially circumventing Google’s and Amazon’s usual terms of service.

### The “Winking Mechanism” for Covert Communication

Cloud storage providers sometimes hand over customer data to law enforcement or investigative agencies, often under legal restrictions that prevent them from notifying customers. However, to secure the Project Nimbus deal, both Amazon and Google reportedly agreed to what The Guardian calls a “winking mechanism” — a roundabout way of communicating the transfer of data without explicit disclosure.

Here is how this system reportedly works:

– When a foreign authority requests access to Israeli data stored with Amazon or Google, the company sends Israel a payment coded according to the telephone country code of that requesting authority.
– For example, if U.S. authorities access the data, the company sends a payment of 1,000 shekels, referencing the U.S. country code +1.
– If the request comes from Denmark, which has the country code +45, the payment made would be 4,500 shekels.
– In cases where legal orders more explicitly forbid Google or Amazon from hinting at the origin of the data request, the companies are said to send a larger payment of 100,000 shekels.

### Restrictions on Service Withdrawal Amid Human Rights Concerns

The report further states that the Project Nimbus agreement contains clauses that prevent Google and Amazon from suspending or withdrawing their services, even if the Israeli government is found to be violating either company’s terms of service or human rights considerations.

This aspect of the agreement has drawn parallels with a recent case involving Microsoft. Last month, following investigative reporting by The Guardian, Microsoft terminated a cloud services contract with the Israeli military after discovering that civilian surveillance data — including recordings of Palestinian phone calls — had been stored on its Azure cloud platform against the company’s terms.

An unnamed Israeli official quoted in today’s report emphasized that under Project Nimbus, there are “no restrictions” on the types of information Israel may store within Google and Amazon’s cloud systems. Furthermore, either company attempting to withdraw from the contract on similar grounds would reportedly face financial and legal penalties.

### Google and Amazon Deny Wrongdoing

Both Google and Amazon have strongly denied the allegations.

A Google spokesperson told Android Authority:

> “The accusations in this reporting are false, and imply that we somehow were involved in illegal activity, which is absurd. As is common in public sector agreements, an RFP does not reflect a final contract. The idea that we would evade our legal obligations to the U.S. government as a U.S. company, or in any other country, is categorically wrong.
>
> We’ve been very clear about the Nimbus contract, what it’s directed to, and the Terms of Service and Acceptable Use Policy that govern it. Nothing has changed. This appears to be yet another attempt to falsely imply otherwise.”

An Amazon Web Services (AWS) spokesperson also responded to Android Authority, saying:

> “We have a rigorous global process for responding to lawful and binding orders for requests related to customer data. AWS carefully reviews each request to assess any non-disclosure obligations, and we maintain confidentiality in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. While AWS does not disclose customer information in response to government demands unless we’re absolutely required to do so, we recognize the legitimate needs of law enforcement agencies to investigate serious crimes. We do not have any processes in place to circumvent our confidentiality obligations on lawfully binding orders.”

As of this publication, the Israeli Ministry of Finance has not responded to requests for comment.

—

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https://www.androidauthority.com/google-amazon-project-nimbus-israel-wink-3611415/

celebrity, entertainment, family, parenting

Why Mariska Hargitay Jokingly Calls Her Kids “Losers”

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**Watch: See Mariska Hargitay and Peter Hermann’s Rare Family Outing With 3 Kids on Red Carpet**

Mariska Hargitay isn’t pulling out the cuffs for her kids. The *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* star recently shared insight into how she playfully handles her and husband Peter Hermann’s sons, August, 18, and Andrew, 13, and daughter, Amaya, 14, when they misbehave.

“I would say humor and comedy has saved my life,” Mariska explained in the October 21 episode of the *Good Hang with Amy Poehler* podcast. “I’m so grateful for that. When my kids do bad things, I call them losers, and then they say, ‘Oh, it’s not that bad if she’s calling us a loser.’ And we laugh through it. We just rip on the kids.”

She added, “I just say, ‘Don’t do that ’cause if you do that, you’re a hack and a loser. Is that what you want to be?’”

Indeed, the 61-year-old revealed that their dynamic has kept her family stronger than ever, thanks to Peter, 58, whom she married in 2004.

“This is why I’m still married, because my husband, sometimes I’m so upset or something’s happened and I’m so scared,” she recalled. “I’m like, ‘No, Peter. Something’s wrong. I feel a tightness in my chest and I might need to go to the hospital.’ He immediately goes into the comedy,” she continued, “and then as soon as I laugh, I go, ‘Should I be scared or not?’”

For Mariska, finding love — let alone on the set of *SVU* — was something she never imagined.

“We didn’t get married ‘til I was 40 and we dated for two years and then once he asked me to marry him, we got married in four months,” she explained. “I don’t think I could have handled a marriage earlier. I don’t think I’d be married. I just had too much to learn.”

Since saying “I do,” the *My Mom Jayne* filmmaker has learned a lot about what it takes to keep a relationship stronger than ever.

“We listen to each other and root for each other,” she told *E! News* in October 2024, “and challenge each other and are committed and so invested. We want the same things, and we cherish our union — that comes first.”

Despite being married for over two decades, she and the *Younger* actor have continued to learn more and more about each other.

“Peter is such a deep and soulful human,” she shared with *E!* in January 2024. “I just love getting to know him on a deeper level. And so there’s always more.”

For more eyebrow-raising celebrity confessions, keep reading.
https://www.eonline.com/news/1424096/mariska-hargitay-jokingly-calls-her-kids-losers?cmpid=rss-syndicate-genericrss-us-top_stories

business, celebrity, family, fashion, travel

Glamorous Lauren Sanchez wears a cleavage boosting silk Valentino dress as she joins husband Jeff Bezos and his daughter for a lavish dinner in Paris

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Lauren Sanchez looked incredible in a Valentino dress as she joined husband Jeff Bezos and his daughter for a lavish dinner in Paris on Sunday.

The former journalist, 55, was snapped exiting alongside the billionaire Amazon tycoon, 61, and his adoptive daughter, whom he shares with ex-wife MacKenzie Scott. The American philanthropist was the epitome of fashion in the silk ruched number, flashing a glimpse of her ample assets. She accessorised the stunning dinner look with a quilted red chain-strap bag, also from Valentino, and wore elegant matching heels.

Meanwhile, the business mogul opted for an all-black look and shielded behind dark shades.

The wealthy entrepreneur, who was ranked by Forbes as the third richest person in the world in May 2025, shares three sons and one daughter with his ex-wife MacKenzie, and one adopted son with Lauren, who also has three kids of her own.

The couple’s appearance comes almost three months after she said “I do” to Jeff during their Venice nuptials. Described as the “wedding of the century,” the Amazon founder and former journalist exchanged vows in front of almost 200 VIP guests on San Giorgio Maggiore island.

Following the ultra-exclusive ceremony, the billionaire couple threw a star-studded reception attended by high-profile guests, including the Kardashian sisters, Oprah Winfrey, Ivanka Trump, Usher, and Orlando Bloom. The extravagant affair, reportedly costing $20 million and drawing ire from locals, was capped off with an eyebrow-raising gift from the bride.

The wedding, held two years after Jeff proposed to Lauren aboard his $500 million superyacht, was described as “extremely intimate” with a strict no-phone policy. Around 70 of the 200 guests were family members.

During wedding week, the philanthropist debuted her stunning Schwartz ring while stepping out in a Schiaparelli gown. Courtesy of celebrity jeweler Lorraine Schwartz, the ring is believed to be around 30 carats and valued between $1.5 million and $3 million.

“We don’t have a lot of traditions that we’re keeping,” Sanchez told Vogue ahead of the big day. “I mean, I love traditions, but for a 55-year-old woman, it’s a little different.”

While her Dolce earrings served as the traditional “something borrowed,” Lauren gave “something blue” a cosmic twist by carrying an artifact from her recent 11-minute space journey.

“Blue Origin,” she said. “It’s something from my space flight.”

The ex-journalist carried a secret, nearly unattainable souvenir from space, explaining it was “because it was literally one of the most profound experiences I’ve ever had in my life.”

“Seeing Earth from space, I came down and I couldn’t describe it,” she told Vogue. “It was the greatest experience I’ve ever had. Jeff said, ‘It’s gonna change you more than you think,’ and it completely has, visually, spiritually.”

But the lavish celebrations also ruffled some feathers, with the nuptials facing backlash from locals as well as activists.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-15164787/Lauren-Sanchez-Jeff-Bezos-daughter-dinner-paris.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490