Hundreds of Google employees have signed an open letter demanding that the tech company end its relationship with ICE and CBP.
The letter, signed by more than 900 employees, states that they are “appalled by the violence” brought by the federal agencies.
“Google is powering this campaign of surveillance, violence, and repression,” the letter adds, going on to list AI services from other entities that assist federal immigration efforts. “Cloud is helping to stitch together CBP surveillance systems along the border and nationwide, while also powering Palantir’s ImmigrationOS system that ICE uses to track immigrants. Google generative AI is being used by DHS and CBP for ‘workforce enablement’ and ‘improving operational efficiency.’ The Play Store has blocked the most effective ICE tracking apps for keeping our communities safe. YouTube has been running ICE recruitment and ‘self-deport’ ads.
The employees state that they are “horrified” by the technology’s use.
“We are vehemently opposed to Google’s partnerships with DHS, CBP, and ICE,” the open letter adds. “We consider it our leadership’s ethical and policy-bound responsibility to disclose all contracts and collaboration with CBP and ICE, and to divest from these partnerships.”
The demand follows a similar letter from technology company employees that condemned ICE activities in U.S. cities.
“We condemn the Border Patrol’s killing of Alex Pretti and the violent surge of federal agents across our cities. The wanton brutality we’ve seen from ICE and CBP has removed any credibility that these actions are about immigration enforcement. Their goal is terror, cruelty, and suppression of dissent. This must end,” the letter declared, going on to “call on all our colleagues who share our values to use their voice.”
