More than 1,000 Google employees have signed an internal petition urging the company to end what they describe as its ties with US immigration enforcement agencies, including ICE, citing concerns over the use of Google’s technology in surveillance and immigration operations.
Over 1,000 Google employees have signed an internal petition calling on the company to cut what they describe as ties with US immigration enforcement agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
The letter alleges that Google’s technology is being used to support surveillance practices linked to federal immigration operations. It references the deaths of Keith Porter, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, and claims that Google Cloud infrastructure underpins CBP surveillance systems across the US and along the southern border. It also alleges that Google’s cloud services support Palantir’s ImmigrationOS platform, which ICE uses to track immigrants.
Employees further claim that Google’s generative AI tools have been used by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and CBP to boost workforce productivity and improve operational efficiency. The petition also criticises Google-owned platforms, alleging that the Play Store has restricted access to apps designed to track ICE activity, while YouTube has carried advertisements promoting ICE recruitment and self-deportation messaging.
“As the people building these systems, we are deeply disturbed by how this technology is being used,” the letter states. Google has not publicly responded to the petition.
Call for transparency and divestment
Titled “Googlers Demand: Worker Safety & ICE Contract Transparency”, the letter urges employees to rally broader support before it is formally submitted to company leadership. The signatories argue that Google has an ethical and policy obligation to fully disclose all contracts and collaborations with DHS, ICE and CBP, and to withdraw from partnerships they say enable state violence and repression.
Worker safety and public response
Among their demands, employees have called on leadership to acknowledge the risks and harm faced by workers across the US and to advocate urgent public responses. These include community-based measures such as school closures and mutual aid efforts during periods of unrest.
Demand for leadership engagement
The petition also calls for an emergency, US-based town hall or live Q&A session with executives responsible for government contracts. Employees want the session to be recorded and conducted without AI-generated summaries or consolidated questions.
Protection for all workers
Employees are seeking stronger worker protections, including flexible work-from-home policies and legal and immigration support for all staff, ranging from cafeteria workers to data centre employees.
‘Red lines’ on technology use
Finally, the signatories are demanding clear “red lines” on the use of Google’s Cloud and AI products. They are seeking greater transparency on how government agencies use the company’s technology and full disclosure of all ties with DHS, CBP and ICE.
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