Nearly 900 Google workers have signed an open letter demanding the company cut ties with federal immigration enforcement agencies, citing moral concerns over technology use in militarized operations.
Google is facing mounting internal pressure as nearly 900 employees have signed an open letter demanding the company sever ties with federal immigration enforcement agencies, including ICE and CBP. The letter, published Friday, calls for greater transparency about how Google's technology is being used within the US government amid a violent and deadly immigration crackdown.
The employee-led initiative follows a broader tech industry movement, with hundreds of workers from Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and other companies signing a similar letter two weeks ago demanding all tech companies stop supporting federal immigration enforcement operations.
Growing Internal Dissent
Two Google employees, identified only as Alex (a seven-year veteran) and S (a three-year employee), spoke publicly about their concerns. Alex described feeling "mind-boggling" that Google maintains relationships with immigration enforcement bodies, while S stated she would never have joined the company had she known about these contracts.
"I was proud to be working at a company with a moral compass. I'm not proud anymore," Alex said, drawing parallels to Google's 2018 decision to abandon Project Maven, a Pentagon contract for drone technology development that faced similar employee backlash.
The Scope of Google's Government Work
The employees' demands extend beyond immigration enforcement. Google provides cloud services to federal agencies and has entered partnerships with major military contractors. In 2023, the company partnered with Lockheed Martin to deploy Gemini AI models in unnamed products and services. Google also maintains a partnership with Palantir, whose technology powers operations for DHS, ICE, CBP, and all six branches of the US military.
In October, Google removed several apps from its app store that allowed users to report and document ICE agent sightings, a move that Apple also made. This action has raised questions about the company's role in potentially limiting public oversight of immigration enforcement activities.
Employee Demands
The open letter outlines four key demands:
- Pull Google technology from any work within DHS, ICE, and CBP
- Provide worker protection from immigration enforcement activities
- Hold an all-hands meeting to address employee concerns
- Increase transparency about government contracts and technology usage
Alex and S emphasized that their objections stem from contributing to militarized actions against people. They criticized Google leadership, including CEO Sundar Pichai, for failing to address the extent of the company's work with federal agencies.
Context of the Immigration Crackdown
The employee activism comes amid intensified federal immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. Armed agents from ICE and CBP have conducted operations in multiple cities, resulting in two high-profile killings of US citizens who were observing federal agents. The administration has stepped up programs to forcibly remove immigrants, leading to widespread criticism and protests.
This internal conflict at Google reflects a broader tension in the tech industry between pursuing government contracts and maintaining ethical standards that attract and retain talent. The company's previous experience with Project Maven demonstrates that employee pressure can influence corporate decision-making on sensitive government partnerships.
A Google spokesperson declined to comment on the open letter or the employees' demands, leaving the company's position on these issues unclear as internal dissent continues to grow.
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