Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2020
Google defends its employee dismissals in response to NLRB complaint
Company response
In December 2020, Google responded to a complaint filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). According to the source, Google stated that it supports employees' workplace rights, defended its decision to terminate or discipline employees, and said it would provide information to the NLRB and an administrative judge. The response addressed the NLRB complaint concerning the company's treatment of employees. Google did not, in the reported statement, concede any wrongdoing; it presented its position that its actions were consistent with supporting employee rights and that it would cooperate by supplying information to the NLRB and the administrative judge handling the matter.
In response to the NLRB complaint, Google said it supports employees' workplace rights, defended its decision to terminate or discipline employees, and said it would provide information to the NLRB and administrative judge.
Company response
Denial — Google
We’ll continue to provide information to the NLRB and the administrative judge about our decision to terminate or discipline employees who abused their privileged access to internal systems, such as our security tools or colleagues’ calendars. Such actions are a serious violation of our policies and an unacceptable breach of a trusted responsibility, and we will be defending our position.
Source excerpt
In a statement to TechCrunch, a Google spokesperson said the company supports the rights of its employees in the workplace.
We’ll continue to provide information to the NLRB and the administrative judge about our decision to terminate or discipline employees who abused their privileged access to internal systems, such as our security tools or colleagues’ calendars. Such actions are a serious violation of our policies and an unacceptable breach of a trusted responsibility, and we will be defending our position.
The NLRB also alleges Google discouraged “its employees from forming, joining, assisting a union or engaging in other protected, concerted activities,” the complaint states.
2020
U.S. ITC investigates Google-Sonos patent allegations
Investigation
The report says the U.S. International Trade Commission had opened an investigation into the patent-infringement allegations involving Google and Sonos.
Company response
Denial — Google
A Google spokesperson said the company would fight the lawsuit and was "disappointed" that Sonos chose to sue instead of "continuing negotiations in good faith."
Denial — Amazon
Amazon, meanwhile, denied that it violated any patents and said its multi-room music was "developed independently."
Denial — Google
谷歌否认侵犯Sonos任何专利，并表示这些指控不实。
Source excerpt
美国国际贸易委员会现已对此展开调查。
Representatives for Google told the Times that the company was “disappointed that Sonos brought these lawsuits instead of continuing negotiations in good faith” and that they denied the claims.
Speaker company Sonos has filed a lawsuit against Google in two federal court systems, as reports. The Santa Barbara-based firm claims that Google knowingly infringed upon patented Sonos technology in the development of their own smart speaker systems, beginning with the launch of the Google Home series.
2020
Google pushes temporary fix for ChromeOS update issue
Corrective action
Google pushed out a temporary fix after a ChromeOS update caused excessive CPU utilization and affected devices to become very hot. The article says Google planned a permanent fix via a future update.
Stated objective. Address the problem caused by the update.
Company response
Remediation — Google
Google says it has now pushed out a temporary fix for the problem.
Source excerpt
Not only did this cause affected devices to become incredibly hot, but it also crushed the Chromebooks' performance and battery life.
Thankfully, Google has pushed out a temporary fix that should address the problem.
2020
Facebook sues analytics company over alleged user-data access
Lawsuit filed
Facebook filed a lawsuit in California against an analytics company, alleging that it illegally accessed user data through a malicious SDK installed in apps. The article reports the allegations and does not state a court determination.
Source excerpt
Facebook has filed a lawsuit in California against a data analytics company it claims has illegally accessed user data.
New Jersey-based OneAnalytics allegedly paid app developers to install a malicious software development kit (SDK) in their apps. This was designed to harvest information including name, gender, email and username of users logging in to the apps with their Facebook credentials, the social network claimed.
The firm is said to have done the same to Twitter and Google users.
2020
Google delays Play Store billing requirement in India
Company response
Google delayed plans to require local developers to bill through its Play Store and pay a 30 per cent fee until 2022, following an outcry over the policy in India.
Company response
Clarification — Google
We are setting up listening sessions with leading Indian startups to understand their concerns more deeply
Source excerpt
More than 200 startup founders have banded together and opened discussions with the government to stop the Alphabet Inc unit from imposing a 30 per cent fee on smartphone app purchases, its standard levy around the world.
We are setting up listening sessions with leading Indian startups to understand their concerns more deeply
The Mountain View, California-based company struck a chastened tone as it delayed plans until 2022 to force local developers to bill through its Play Store and hand over the 30 per cent fee.
2020
EFF reports Ring app data sharing with third parties
Issue disclosure
The Electronic Frontier Foundation reported that its investigation of Ring’s Android app found personally identifiable customer information being sent to third-party analytics and marketing companies. Ring said it uses third-party service providers to evaluate app use and stated that it limited the amount of data shared.
Company response
Clarification — Ring
In a statement to Gizmodo, the Amazon-owned home security and the smart home company said it limited the amount of data it shared.
Source excerpt
In a statement to Gizmodo, the Amazon-owned home security and the smart home company said it limited the amount of data it shared.
An investigation of the Ring doorbell app for Android discovered that four main analytics and marketing companies - including Facebook and Google -- were receiving information such as the names, private IP addresses, mobile network carriers, persistent identifiers, and sensor data on the devices of paying customers.
The EEF said that Ring has exhibited a pattern of behaviour that attempts to mitigate exposure to criticism and scrutiny while benefiting from the wide array of customer data available to them.
2020
Fragomen discloses breach involving Google employee data
Issue disclosure
Fragomen disclosed that an unauthorized third party accessed a data file containing personal information about a discrete number of current and former Google employees. Fragomen said it had no evidence at that point that the information had been viewed.
Company response
Investigation — Fragomen
We promptly commenced an investigation upon learning of this activity and engaged a digital forensic investigation firm to assist with this investigation
Remediation — Fragomen
The law firm has since taken steps to enhance security infrastructure and detection capabilities.
Refund or compensation — Fragomen
Fragomen has notified the affected people and offered free identity theft protection and credit monitoring where it is available.
Source excerpt
The incident occurred Sept. 24.
Fragomen provides I-9 services to Google.
Fragomen said it had no evidence at this point that information in the accessed file had been viewed.
2020
Google responds to antisemitic image search results
Company response
After a Google Images search for “Jewish baby stroller” returned antisemitic images, Google said the results were low quality and that it would examine the situation to provide more helpful results. The article also reports that the company had made system changes to reduce the potential for offensive results.
Stated objective. Return more helpful results and reduce the potential for offensive results.
Company response
Remediation — Google
The company has made changes in its systems to ensure algorithms reduce the potential for offensive results, Google said further, noting that it employs a permanent team to deal with the issue.
Source excerpt
Tech giant Google responded delicately over the weekend after outrage erupted following the revelation that a search on the platform for images of a “Jewish baby stroller” turns up grossly antisemitic images.
The search revealed various memes featuring small mobile ovens, a clear reference to the cremation of those murdered in the Nazi gas chambers.
“These results do not reflect our opinions, and we share concerns about these low quality results,” Google said. “We’ve done considerable work in improving instances where we return low quality content, and we’ll look at this situation to see how we can return more helpful results.”
2020
Google removes nearly 600 apps over mobile ad fraud
Issue disclosure
Google said nearly 600 apps were removed from the Play Store for mobile ad fraud; the article says the apps included all those associated with Cheetah Mobile, and that they were also barred from Google Ad Manager and Google AdMob.
Source excerpt
The same apps have also been barred from Google Ad Manager and Google AdMob, monetization channels often used on this platform.
Google has released a blog post explaining why nearly 600 apps have just been removed from Android's Play Store. These apps were deemed guilty of "mobile ad fraud", which contravenes the Mountain View giant's policies. The apps in question include all those associated with the company Cheetah Mobile.
2019
Whistleblower alleges Google DeepMind project involves planetary surveillance
Issue disclosure
In 2019, former Google developer Zach Vorhies alleged that Google's DeepMind project involved planetary surveillance and said the system had been moved to China. DeepMind disputed the claims, stating that it is headquartered in the UK and does not have operations in China. The controversy centered on the nature and location of the DeepMind project, with the whistleblower's assertions and the company's denial presenting conflicting accounts.
2019
US DOJ investigates Google–Looker deal
Investigation
The US Department of Justice's antitrust division began an in-depth investigation of Google's planned acquisition of Looker Data Sciences, seeking information from both companies to assess whether their combination could harm competitors.
2019
Report says Google funded climate change denial organizations
Issue disclosure
Business Insider, citing The Guardian, reported that Google had funded think tanks and lobbying organizations that actively oppose climate legislation and deny climate change. Google said its sponsorships did not mean it endorsed those organizations' entire agendas and reiterated its climate position.
Company response
Clarification — Google
We've been extremely clear that Google's sponsorship doesn't mean that we endorse that organization's entire agenda — we may disagree strongly on some issues.
Source excerpt
We've been extremely clear that Google's sponsorship doesn't mean that we endorse that organization's entire agenda — we may disagree strongly on some issues.
Google's list of beneficiaries for "substantial contributions" include numerous organizations which have been active in denying climate change exists and lobbying against legislation to combat it.
Google has been funding think tanks and lobbying organizations which actively fight against climate change legislation, The Guardian reports.
2019
USITC launches investigation into patent infringement allegations
Investigation
In 2019, the U.S. International Trade Commission decided to investigate allegations by GlobalFoundries that TSMC and other companies infringed 16 of its patents. The investigation concerns the patent infringement claims raised by GlobalFoundries against TSMC and other companies. The allegations are not presented as a determination of infringement, and the source material does not indicate that the infringement claims have been established.
2019
Users report Pixel 3 shutting down below 30% battery
Hazard disclosure
Android Authority reported that some Pixel 3 users said their phones automatically shut down when the battery fell below 30%. The article says Android Authority contacted Google about the reports and was awaiting further information on a solution.
2019
Google responds to claims about Ascension patient data
Company response
In November 2019, Google executives responded to media reports and criticism concerning the handling of patient information provided by Ascension. According to the response, the company stated that it had not misused the health data supplied by Ascension and that no patient data had been used for Google AI research. The statement addressed concerns raised over how patient information was handled in connection with Ascension.
2019
London court rules in Google’s favor in Goooglie Cars dispute
Ruling
A London judge ruled in favor of Google in its dispute with Goooglie Cars over the taxi company’s logo. The judge ordered Goooglie Cars’ director to pay Google’s capped legal costs, but rejected Google’s request that the company change its name.
Source excerpt
The search company sued Goooglie Cars’ sole director, Sohail Nagi, for about $12,800, arguing that the cabby had been “unfairly free-riding off its reputation” by presenting the company name in Google’s style — using a very similar font and color scheme as the ones in the tech giant’s logo.
The judge rejected Google’s request that Goooglie Cars change its name.
Judge Gordon Nurse ruled in favor of Google after the tech giant agreed to cap its legal costs at 10,000 pounds, about half of what it incurred, which Nurse called “a very generous limit.”
2019
Google sues Texas attorney general over confidential information in antitrust probe
Lawsuit filed
Google filed a lawsuit against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, seeking to prevent its confidential business information from being disclosed to rivals during a multi-state probe into possible antitrust violations by Google. The dispute centered on the handling of confidential information within the investigation.
Google sued Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to prevent its confidential business information from being disclosed to rivals during a multi-state probe into possible antitrust violations by Google.
Stated objective. To ensure that its confidential business information will not be disclosed to rivals.
Company response
Denial — Google
Google, meanwhile, claims that it hasn’t done anything wrong.
Ongoing disclosure — Google
“We will review the complaint but the AG’s allegations appear to misrepresent what occurred here,” the company said in a statement.
Denial — Google
We disagree with today's reports, which feature outdated and inaccurate allegations from commercial rivals about Search and other services.
Source excerpt
Google sued Texas' attorney general on Thursday to ensure that its confidential business information will not be disclosed to rivals as he leads a multi-state probe into possible antitrust violations by the Internet search and advertising company.
Attorneys general in the District of Columbia, Texas and Washington said they filed similar complaints against Google on Monday.
Information regarding the Web & App Activity and Location History settings were omitted or misrepresented to users "from at least 2014 to at least 2019," the complaint reads.
2019
ACCC sues Google over location data
Lawsuit filed
In 2019, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) filed a lawsuit against Google. The regulator accused the company of misleading Android users about the steps required to disable Google's ability to track and use their location data. According to the ACCC's allegation, users were not accurately informed about how to turn off this functionality. The case concerns the presentation of location-data settings to consumers on the Android platform. The ACCC's action was reported as a lawsuit over the use of location data.
Company response
Denial — Google
The Attorney General and the contingency fee lawyers filing this lawsuit appear to have mischaracterized our services,
Denial — Google
"The Attorney General and the contingency fee lawyers filing this lawsuit appear to have mischaracterized our services," a Google spokesperson told The Verge.
Clarification — Google
"We have always built privacy features into our products and provided robust controls for location data. We look forward to setting the record straight," the spokesperson added.
Source excerpt
The state of Arizona filed a consumer fraud lawsuit against Google on Wednesday.
According to Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, the company illegally tracked Android users’ location data without their consent.
Brnovich’s suit argues that the maker of the Android smartphone operating system had designed it in such a way that it deceives device owners about the protections afforded to their personal data.
2019
Google workers terminated amid organizing campaign
Issue disclosure
Liberation News reports that four Alphabet workers were terminated for violating data-access policies and says the organizers had been involved in a campaign opposing Google's collaboration with U.S. border authorities. The article characterizes the terminations as retaliation; this is an allegation reported by the source.
Source excerpt
Four workers at Alphabet, the parent company of Google, were terminated on November 11 for violating so-called “data access” policies.
The four organizers were each involved in a recent campaign against Google’s involvement with Customs and Border Patrol.
2019
Google offers refunds to Stadia game buyers
Company response
After games were added to the Stadia Pro subscription shortly after some customers had bought them, Google offered eligible purchasers the option to request refunds, including outside its normal policy.
Company response
Refund or compensation — Google
Because of the proximity between the launch of the platform, and the announcement of these titles in Stadia Pro, we're happy to assist you if you'd like to request a refund if you have purchased either or both of these titles, even if it's outside of our normal policy.
Source excerpt
Google has offered refunds to anyone who has already bought a game just added to the £8.99-a-month Stadia Pro subscription.
Because of the proximity between the launch of the platform, and the announcement of these titles in Stadia Pro, we're happy to assist you if you'd like to request a refund if you have purchased either or both of these titles, even if it's outside of our normal policy.