Google Staff Revolt Against Ties with US Immigration Enforcement

Workers demand full disclosure of all government surveillance contracts

San Francisco: A significant wave of internal dissent has swept through Google as more than 900 employees signed an open letter demanding the tech giant cut all ties with US immigration authorities. The collective action targets Google's relationship with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), urging leadership to stop providing technology that aids in surveillance and enforcement.

This open letter surfaces amidst growing outrage over recent violence attributed to immigration agents. Employees cited specific incidents, including the killings of Keith Porter, Renee Good, and Alex Pretti, stating they were "horrified" by the violence and concerned that Google’s technology plays a role in enabling it. The staff argues that the company is effectively powering a campaign of repression by supplying critical infrastructure to these government bodies.

Specific concerns raised in the document highlight the role of Google Cloud in CBP operations. The letter points out that Google’s technology powers the "ImmigrationOS" system used by ICE, via a partnership with Palantir. Furthermore, workers criticized the removal of apps from the Google Play Store that were designed to help the public track ICE activity, arguing this limits transparency.

The protesting employees also highlighted a perceived hypocrisy within the company’s leadership. They quoted a recent statement by Google Chief Scientist Jeff Dean regarding the responsibility to speak up against injustice, arguing that this same standard must apply to Google's corporate contracts.

Beyond demanding an end to these partnerships, the Google employees protest outlines specific requests for worker safety. They are calling for an emergency internal Q&A session regarding military and government contracts. Additionally, they have requested expanded support for staff members and their families who might be impacted by aggressive immigration enforcement policies.

This movement at Google is part of a larger trend across the tech sector. Employees at other major corporations, including Amazon, Meta, and Spotify, have recently voiced similar demands, signaling a broader shift where tech workers are holding their employers accountable for ethical standards in government contracting.

As of now, Google has not issued an official response to the demands.