Title: Google Under Pressure for Racial Equity Audit Following AI Ethics Issues
Written on
Chapter 1: Call for Accountability
A prominent racial justice organization, Color of Change, is urging Google to permit external auditors to evaluate its operations for potential discriminatory practices. The request follows the dismissal of two women who were at the forefront of the company's Ethical AI initiative.
In a correspondence addressed to Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai and other senior leadership, Color of Change emphasized that an independent and transparent audit would enable the company to identify both its strengths and weaknesses concerning “racial equity, civil rights, and anti-discrimination.”
“This hostile work environment affects Black Googlers, who often encounter racist attitudes and are unfairly tasked with educating their peers or facing retaliation for addressing biased products, features, or policies,” the organization articulated in their letter.
Racial equity audits are conducted by third-party entities that scrutinize a company's operations — from policies to product offerings — to assess whether they contribute to or perpetuate discrimination.
Section 1.1: Impact on YouTube and Broader Implications
Color of Change also voiced concerns about YouTube, criticizing the platform for enabling influencers who disseminate white nationalist and extremist content. This initiative increases scrutiny on Alphabet Inc.'s Google regarding its handling of harassment claims and racial justice matters, which include ongoing research into AI bias and the spread of harmful content on YouTube. Last year, Color of Change successfully coordinated an advertiser boycott against Facebook Inc. over similar issues.
Subsection 1.1.1: Testimony and Transparency Issues
On Tuesday, Alexandra Veitch, a public policy executive at YouTube, is expected to testify before a Senate Judiciary subcommittee alongside leaders from Facebook and Twitter Inc. about the influence of social media technology on public discourse.
“While Google projects an image of support for equality and justice, they have not been transparent about the underlying issues,” stated Rashad Robinson, President of Color of Change, in an interview. “They have not taken accountability, and we need them to make this commitment.”
Color of Change has met with Google multiple times to address racial justice concerns, even requesting a meeting with Pichai, which was turned down, Robinson noted.
Section 1.2: Google's Response to Criticism
In response, Google’s spokesperson, José Castañeda, stated, “Diversity, inclusion, and equity, along with essential civil and human rights, are integral to our workplace, our supplier relationships, and our overall operations. We recognize that there is always more to be accomplished, and as we continue to make progress on our racial equity commitments, we appreciate feedback from Color of Change.”
Last June, following the tragic murder of George Floyd, Google pledged to enhance representation of underrepresented groups in senior roles by 30% by 2025. Additionally, they aimed to double the number of Black+ Googlers across all levels by the same year. The company has also reported hiring more staff to support underrepresented employees and to guide them in their career paths, while implementing measures to ensure that performance evaluations are fair.
Chapter 2: The Collapse of the Ethical AI Team
In December 2020, Google’s Ethical AI team began to deteriorate after the controversial departure of notable Black researcher Timnit Gebru over a paper that the company viewed as critical of its AI technologies. Gebru and her co-lead, Margaret Mitchell, were dismissed, and they cited a culture of sexism and racism as factors for their exclusion from discussions surrounding AI ethics.
Gebru gained recognition for her 2018 study highlighting the shortcomings of certain facial recognition technologies in accurately identifying individuals with darker skin tones.
In recent years, Color of Change and other civil rights organizations have successfully advocated for independent racial equity audits at companies like Facebook and Airbnb Inc. Following Facebook's audit, the company appointed Roy Austin, a former Justice Department official during President Barack Obama’s administration, to lead its civil rights strategy. However, Facebook has reportedly not fully implemented some recommendations made by the auditors.
— With contributions from Nico Grant.