YouTube also removed health-related content over vaccines and Covid-19 it deemed violated its misinformation policies.
YouTube and other social media platforms banned the accounts of Donald Trump and other political figures in the aftermath of the Jan. 6, 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol.
Speech & moderationConfirmed
YouTube changes moderation to allow harmful content
YouTube changed its moderation policies to allow more content violating its rules to remain online.
YouTube, the world's largest video platform, with 20 million videos uploaded each day, appears to have changed its moderation policies to allow more content that violates its own rules to remain online.
YouTube, the world's largest video platform, appears to have changed its moderation policies to allow more content that violates its own rules to remain online.
YouTube quietly changed its moderation policies late last year, according to a recent report from The New York Times, allowing more content that violates its own guidelines to remain on the world's most popular video platform.
Israel & PalestineConfirmed
Google fires employee for pro-Palestinian speech
Google fired an employee after he made pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel declarations during a conference in New York City.
In March, Google fired an employee after he interrupted a speech by the tech firm’s managing director in Israel with pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel declarations during a conference in New York City.
Israel & PalestineAllegation
Google is accused of firing 50 employees for pro-Palestinian activism
Google is accused of firing over 50 employees in April 2024 for participating in a pro-Palestinian day of action on two campuses.
Former Google employees are suing the corporation after it fired over 50 in April 2024 for participating in a simultaneous “day of action” for Palestine on two of its campuses, which the protesters argue is protected behavior under multiple state laws.
LGBTQ+ policiesConfirmed
Google begins covering LGBTQ+ domestic partner tax cost
Google will start covering the tax cost gay and lesbian employees pay when partners receive domestic partner health benefits.
On Thursday, Google is going to begin covering a cost that gay and lesbian employees must pay when their partners receive domestic partner health benefits, largely to compensate them for an extra tax that heterosexual married couples do not pay.
Israel & PalestineConfirmed
Google donates $8 million to Israel Gaza relief
Google donates $8 million to Israel and Gaza relief efforts.
The tech giant said Google.org and Google employees are contributing $15 million in donations to aid relief efforts in Ukraine, with $5 million coming from the company’s employee matching campaign and another $5 million coming from grants.
Google donating $15 million to Ukraine relief efforts, blocking RT YouTube channels in Europe - ZDNET
Workplace equitySettlement
YouTube and Google parent Alphabet committed $310 million over ten years to diversity
YouTube and Google parent Alphabet has committed $310 million over ten years to diversity and inclusion initiatives to settle a shareholder lawsuit stemming from allegations the company concealed payouts to top male executives accused of sexual harassment.
YouTube and Google parent Alphabet has committed $310 million over ten years to diversity and inclusion initiatives to settle a shareholder lawsuit stemming from allegations the company concealed payouts to top male executives accused of sexual harassment.
YouTube and Google parent Alphabet has committed $310 million over ten years to diversity and inclusion initiatives to settle a shareholder lawsuit stemming from allegations the company concealed payouts to top male executives accused of sexual harassment.
Google and Meta made cuts to DEI programs in 2023: Here's what you need to know
In line with this broader trend, both Google and Meta have cut staffers and downsized programs that fell under DEI investment.
In addition to cutting staff who worked on DEI programs and ERGs, both Meta and Google cut planned learning and development training for underrepresented talent, according to multiple sources who asked not to be named due to fear of retaliation.
Speech & moderationAllegation
Google is accused of removing content after Russia and China requests
Google is accused of removing YouTube content following government requests from Russia and China, including videos of anti-state protesters and criticism of politicians.
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.
Wages & economic policyConfirmed
Google spends more than $2 million on lobbying
Google has spent more than $2 million since January 2023 lobbying the California legislature, Newsom's office, and other regulators.
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.
Media & the pressConfirmed
Google announces $300 million for journalism
Google announced a $300 million program to support mainstream news organizations and journalism programs.
In March, Google announced with much fanfare the launch of the Google News Initiative, a $300 million program aimed at “building a strong future for journalism,” as the company put it.
Media & the pressConfirmed
Google makes bad move supporting propaganda outlet
Google analyst Gabor Polyak says supporting a propaganda-spreading outlet would be a bad move.
Independent journalists’ organization MediaPowerMonitor last week published online a piece calling into question Google decision to issue a grant of up to 50,000 euros ($56,000) to New Wave Media, which it depicted as a “one of the staunchest supporters of the corrupt regime led by the far-right Prime Minister Viktor Orban.”
Supporting a propaganda-spreading media outlet would have been a bad move by Google, according to Gabor Polyak, a Budapest-based analyst with the Mertek media watchdog.
Media & the pressConfirmed
Google invests in California news organizations
Google investing directly in California’s news organizations that produce original, fact-based journalism.
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.
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.
Alphabet's (GOOGL.O), opens new tab Google is scrapping its goal to hire more employees from underrepresented groups and is reviewing some of its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, joining a slew of U.S. businesses scaling back diversity initiatives.
Google, a federal contractor, was one of several companies that dropped its diversity initiatives following the president’s DEI-killing executive order.
Meta and Google also significantly reduced funding for DEI initiatives, such as events, training, and recruiting drives aimed at improving representation of minority groups, according to company announcements and employees.
Climate & energyConfirmed
Google deletes net-zero pledge from website
Google removes its net-zero pledge from its sustainability website.