Google sued for firing staff who tried to follow 'Don't be evil' motto (2021)
Three former Google employees filed a civil lawsuit in 2021, claiming they were wrongfully terminated for adhering to the company's 'Don't be evil' motto by protesting contracts with U.S. immigration agencies. They argued that Google's Code of Conduct created a contractual obligation to act ethically, and their dismissal violated that principle. The case follows ongoing labor disputes and highlights tensions between corporate policies and employee activism.
- ▪Former Google employees Rebecca Rivers, Sophie Waldman, and Paul Duke sued the company for firing them after they protested contracts with U.S. immigration agencies.
- ▪The lawsuit claims Google's 'Don't be evil' motto was part of a binding contractual obligation under its Code of Conduct.
- ▪The employees were investigating Google's provision of its Anthos cloud platform to Customs and Border Protection, which contradicted public statements by company leadership.
- ▪Google previously canceled projects like 'Project Dragonfly' and 'Project Maven,' actions cited as prior adherence to the 'Don't be evil' principle.
- ▪The plaintiffs had previously filed complaints with the National Labor Relations Board, which are still unresolved.
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