Google Needs a Racial Equity Audit

Hold tech companies accountable for the safety and well-being of Black people.

While Big Tech’s facade of invincibility is quickly fading, Google has been maintaining a low profile. Elon Musk continues to destroy Twitter by driving out more than half of Twitter’s staff, revoking the hateful content policy, and reinstating hateful actors such as Kyle Rittenhouse, Jordan Peterson, and Kanye West. At the same time Amazon, Facebook, and Instagram are laying off thousands of employees right before the holiday season.

While Google has remained absent from the recent headlines, the company has not addressed its own problems with racism over the years.

Google can avoid the same fate as the rest of Big Tech by conducting a racial equity audit, which would highlight specific areas where Google can eliminate discrimination in its products and workplaces.

Google was once regarded as an innovative business leader, but now it’s lagging behind ethically. During this year’s Annual Shareholder Meeting, a majority of Google shareholders voted in favor of a racial equity audit. However, due to the unequal voting structure, shareholders like Google’s founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin struck down the proposal.

Meanwhile, Apple shareholders approved a proposal for the board to “conduct a third-party audit examining company policies and provide recommendations to improve its civil rights impact.” Even Dollar General announced that they are conducting a racial equity audit this year! This new standard comes after Color Of Change forced Facebook to undergo a civil rights audit, disclose the results and publish its progress.

There is still time for Google to catch up to Apple and Dollar General and conduct a racial equity audit. Tell Google to conduct a racial equity audit now!

Sign the petition at act.colorofchange.org/sign/google-audit-postcard.

Color Of Change is holding tech companies accountable for the safety and well-being of Black people. The organization has curbed election misinformation on Musk’s Twitter platform and they are pressuring Musk to meet demands to protect Black users and keep hateful content off the platform.

We can make a better future happen. One where Google ads don’t drown out accurate and trustworthy information. One where Google ads do not financially support white supremacists to spread misinformation and hateful content. One where Black people can thrive. Because when Black people thrive, the world is safer for everyone.

Take a look at the “The Black Tech Agenda,” created by Color Of Change at blacktechagenda.org.