Over 1,000 employees at Google have come together to sign a petition urging the company to cease collaboration with U.S. immigration enforcement agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). They argue that Google’s technology is being misused in ways that contribute to surveillance and violence related to immigration enforcement. The petition highlights the tragic deaths of individuals like Keith Porter, Renee Good, and Alex Pretti, asserting that Google Cloud underpins CBP’s surveillance systems and Palantir’s ImmigrationOS, a tool ICE utilizes to monitor immigrants.
Additionally, the workers express concern that Google’s generative AI tools have been leveraged by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and CBP to enhance their operational efficiency.
The petitioners are also critical of Google-owned platforms. For instance, the Play Store has previously blocked applications that aim to track ICE activities, while YouTube has hosted ads promoting ICE recruitment and self-deportation efforts. Google has yet to issue a public response regarding these concerns. Employees candidly expressed their deep unease regarding the current use of technology within these contexts.
The petition, reportedly named “Googlers Demand: Worker Safety & ICE Contract Transparency,” is gathering signatures before it is formally presented to company leadership. The signers contend that Google should reveal all contracts with DHS, ICE, and CBP, and should withdraw from partnerships that facilitate state-sanctioned violence.
Furthermore, they urge leadership to acknowledge the risks faced by workers and to support community-led initiatives during times of unrest, including the closing of schools and the establishment of mutual aid networks.
Among their requests is a town hall event or live Q&A session in the U.S. with executives responsible for government contracts, conducted without AI-generated summaries. They seek enhanced safety measures for all employees, including contractors, which would incorporate flexible remote work options and access to legal and immigration assistance. Lastly, they call for transparent guidelines on the use of Google’s AI and cloud technologies by government agencies, alongside a commitment to prevent potential misuse.
