Is Google ethical?

What Choice found

Choice can get this wrong — tell us if something's off.

1–15 of 15

Labor & working conditions Allegation

Google is accused of terminating employees for union activity

Google is accused of terminating employees for attempting to organize a union.

1 sourceRead sources
businessinsider.com
Those employees subsequently filed a complaint with the NLRB alleging that Google terminated them for attempting to organize a union.

Political spending Confirmed

Google donates $1 million to Trump's inaugural committee

Google gave $1 million to President-elect Trump's inaugural committee.

6 sourcesRead sources
thehill.com
Google and Boeing have each given $1 million to President-elect Trump’s inaugural committee, joining a growing list of major corporations supporting the Jan.
businessinsider.com
Google said it is donating $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump's coming inauguration.
independent.co.uk
Tech giant Google donated $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural fund – the latest tech company to do so (AP)
Tech giant Google is the latest company to donate $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural fund, following in the footsteps of other major corporations such as Amazon, Meta, Uber and OpenAI.
influencewatch.org
In January 2025, Google contributed $1 million to President Donald Trump’s inaugural committee, a substantial increase over the $285,000 the company reported giving for the 2016 and 2020 inaugurations combined.
newsweek.com
Google has pledged $1 million to Donald Trump's inaugural fund, joining other tech firms and executives who have made substantial donations ahead of the president-elect's return to the White House. The company confirmed the contribution to Politico on Thursday. The $1 million donation more than triples the $285,000 given to Trump's previous inauguration fund, Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings show.
Google has pledged $1 million to Donald Trump's inaugural fund, joining other tech firms and executives who have made substantial donations ahead of the president-elect's return to the White House.
washingtonpost.com
Google donates $1 million to Trump’s inaugural committee - The Washington Post

Israel & Palestine Confirmed

Google fires protesters for Gaza protest

Google fired employees for protesting its complicity in the war on Gaza.

1 sourceRead sources
thenation.com
Google Fired Us for Protesting Its Complicity in the War on Gaza.

Israel & Palestine Confirmed

Google donates $8 million to Israel Gaza relief

Google donates $8 million to Israel, Gaza relief efforts.

2 sourcesRead sources
tech.yahoo.com
Google has also donated millions of dollars to Israeli emergency efforts, as well as to humanitarian relief support provided in Gaza.
ynetnews.com
Google to donate $8 million to Israel, Gaza relief efforts

Education Confirmed

Google supports colleges with up to $1 million for cybersecurity

Google, in collaboration with the Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics, supports selected colleges and universities with up to $1 million each to expand cybersecurity workforce pathways.

1 sourceRead sources
insidephilanthropy.com
Google Cybersecurity Clinics Fund: Google, in collaboration with the Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics, supports selected colleges, universities and community colleges with up to $1 million each to expand cybersecurity workforce pathways.

Israel & Palestine Confirmed

Google fires employee for pro-Palestinian remarks

Google fired an employee after he interrupted a speech by the company's managing director in Israel with pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel declarations at a conference in New York City.

1 sourceRead sources
timesofisrael.com
Google fired an employee after he interrupted a speech by the tech firm’s managing director in Israel with pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel declarations at a conference in New York City last week.

Wages & economic policy Confirmed

Google spends more than $2 million on lobbying

Google has spent more than $2 million since January 2023 lobbying California regulators and Newsom's office.

1 sourceRead sources
levernews.com
Google has spent more than $2.7 million since January 2023 lobbying Congress on the federal journalism bill and other matters, disclosures show.
Google has spent more than $2 million since January 2023 lobbying the California legislature, Newsom’s office, and other regulators against the bills and other issues, lobbying disclosures show.

Workplace equity Confirmed

Google drops AI weapons pledge

Google dropped its pledge not to use AI for weapons or surveillance.

1 sourceRead sources
time.com
And in early February, Google dropped its pledge not to use AI for weapons or surveillance, a move seen as paving the way for closer cooperation with Trump’s government.

Israel & Palestine Confirmed

Google matches employee donations to pro-Israeli charities

Google matches donations from employees to pro-Israeli charities, including those supporting Israeli soldiers in Gaza and a Christian Zionist group aiming to help Israel reclaim the West Bank.

1 sourceRead sources
business-humanrights.org
Google has been matching donations made by its employees across the world to pro-Israeli charities in the US, including one supporting Israeli soldiers who are fighting in Gaza, and a Christian Zionist group that aims to help Israel “reclaim” the West Bank.

Labor & working conditions Confirmed

Google engaged in unlawful conduct to discourage union activities

Google engaged in unlawful conduct to discourage and chill employees from engaging in protected concerted and union activities in violation of the National Labor Relations Act.

1 sourceRead sources
abcnews.com
"Google engaged in all of this unlawful conduct in order to discourage and chill employees from engaging in protected concerted and union activities in violation of the National Labor Relations Act," the document states, adding, "Its actions are the antithesis of the freedoms and transparency it publicly touts."

Speech & moderation Confirmed

Google admits censorship pressure from Biden admin

Google admits censorship pressure from Biden admin and pledges to reinstate YouTube accounts.

1 sourceRead sources
yahoo.com
Google Admits Censorship Pressure From Biden Admin, Pledges To Reinstate YouTube Accounts

Media & the press Confirmed

Google invests in California news organizations

Google investing directly in California’s news organizations that produce original, fact-based journalism.

1 sourceRead sources
gov.ca.gov
California’s local newsroom grants are supported through the California Civic Media Program, a public-private partnership with Google investing directly in California’s news organizations that produce original, fact-based journalism.
Governor Newsom announces $20 million in grant funding matched by Google to support local journalism across the state | Governor of California
Governor Newsom announces $20 million in grant funding matched by Google to support local journalism across the state

Speech & moderation Allegation

Google is accused of removing content

Google is accused of removing content after requests from Russia and China, including YouTube videos of anti-state protesters.

1 sourceRead sources
theguardian.com
After requests from the governments of Russia and China, Google has removed content such as YouTube videos of anti-state protesters or content that criticises and alleges corruption among their politicians.
At the behest of Roskomnadzor, the tech company removed a YouTube video that allegedly exposed “corruption among politicians” and made “some rhetorical threats of violent action against the alleged corrupt politicians”, Google’s report said.

Climate & energy Confirmed

Google removes net-zero pledge from website

Google deletes net-zero pledge from its sustainability website.

1 sourceRead sources
nationalobserver.com
Google deletes net-zero pledge from sustainability website | Canada's National Observer: Climate News

Political spending Confirmed

Google — Republican Senate candidates

Founded in 2006, Google NetPAC, which says it supports a "free and open internet," last year gave $69,500 to Republican Senate candidates, including $9,000 to senators who voted to confirm at least one of former President Donald Trump's three Supreme Court appointees who voted to overturn Roe v.

1 sourceRead sources
commondreams.org
Founded in 2006, Google NetPAC, which says it supports a "free and open internet," last year gave $69,500 to Republican Senate candidates, including $9,000 to senators who voted to confirm at least one of former President Donald Trump's three Supreme Court appointees who voted to overturn Roe v.