Google Stops Prioritizing Workplace Diversity
The company also stated that as a federal contractor, it was assessing changes due to recent court rulings and executive orders.
Alphabet, the parent company of Google, has ceased prioritizing diversity and inclusion in the workplace, as revealed in a recent filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The company’s annual 10-K report no longer includes its previous commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The report has removed the pledge to build a workforce reflecting the diversity of its users.
Alphabet informed its employees internally that it would no longer set hiring targets based on race or gender.
A Google spokesperson explained, “We are focused on creating a workplace where all employees can thrive and have equal opportunities. Over the past year, we’ve been reviewing our diversity programs.”
The company also stated that as a federal contractor, it was assessing changes due to recent court rulings and executive orders.
The shift in Alphabet’s stance follows repeated criticisms of diversity programs from former President Donald Trump, who issued an executive order last month deeming such initiatives illegal.
Trump’s administration has also rolled back numerous regulations, including those mandating safety measures for AI.
Alphabet’s decision to overhaul its policies comes a day after Google revised its AI principles, removing pledges to avoid using AI for weapons or surveillance.