A group of Senate Democrats is urging Google and its parent company Alphabet to conduct a racial equity audit, citing concerns over the company’s algorithms, products and workplace environment.
“We can no longer rely on promises and need Alphabet to take affirmative steps to protect Black people and other people of color. A racial equity audit is long overdue,” the senators wrote in a letter Wednesday.
The letter led by Sen. Cory BookerCory BookerHillicon Valley: Massachusetts ferry operator hit by ransomware attack | Trump blog page is permanently shut down | Amazon takes big step in e-book deal with libraries, but activists seek more Senate Democrats urge Google to conduct racial equity audit Booker recalls police officer drawing gun on him, accusing him of stealing car MORE (D-N.J.) comes more than a month after civil rights organization Color of Change launched a petition also urging the Silicon Valley giant to conduct a racial equity audit.
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The Democrats said they are “concerned about repeated instances where Alphabet missed the mark and did not proactively ensure its products and workplaces were safe for Black people.”
They called out the algorithms of Google Search and YouTube over accusations of perpetuating “racist stereotypes and white nationalist viewpoints.”
The letter also cited the high-profile dismissal of top Google AI ethicist Timnit Gebru.
In December, Gebru said she was fired after she was asked to retract a paper detailing ethical considerations of an AI technology used in Google’s search engine. Thousands of Google employees rallied behind Gebru and signed a petition protesting her dismissal.
Google has pushed back on Gebru’s claims and has said her dismissal was an acceptance of her resignation.
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“As Congress and the federal government do more to protect communities of color from civil rights violations online, companies need to do their part by examining areas for improvement and ensuring their workplaces are safe for members of these communities,” the Democratic senators wrote.
The letter was also signed by Sens. Ron WydenRonald (Ron) Lee WydenTrump DOJ seized phone records of New York Times reporters Top union unveils national town hall strategy to push Biden’s jobs plan Senate Democrats urge Google to conduct racial equity audit MORE (Ore.), Mark WarnerMark Robert WarnerTop union unveils national town hall strategy to push Biden’s jobs plan Senate Democrats urge Google to conduct racial equity audit Hillicon Valley: Meat producer JBS USA hit by cyberattack | White House says JBS hack likely from Russia | Report finds Amazon injury rate above warehouse standard MORE (Va.), Ed MarkeyEd MarkeySenate Democrats urge Google to conduct racial equity audit Senate climate advocates start digging in on infrastructure goals OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Biden suspends Arctic oil leases issued under Trump | Experts warn US needs to better prepare for hurricane season | Progressives set sights on Civilian Climate Corps MORE (Mass.), and Richard Blumenthal (Conn.).
A spokesperson for Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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