https://www.tomshardware.com/news/google-don-t-be-evil-end,37082.html
Google released an updated code of conduct, which for the first time in almost two decades removed almost all mentions of its “Don't be evil” mantra. The code of conduct embodies a company's values, principles, and ideals, so removing the "Don't be evil" motto from the code may give us a hint towards the direction in which Google is going.
One of the unique things about Google, aside from its thirst for advanced technology and solid software engineering, has been its motto: “Don’t be evil.” Many, including Steve Jobs, have criticized this motto as being nothing but a marketing tactic.
Even if that were true, and its leaders never truly believed in this idea, many Google users and Google employees did believe in the motto. It was part of Google’s charm, and part of what made the company one of the most beloved brands in the world.
Over the past few years, we’ve seen Google abandon end-to-end encryption projects, kill anti-censorship efforts that worked on its cloud infrastructure, and be involved in military projects which have the potential to do just as much “evil” as good.
volvement with the U.S. military and its work on autonomous drones, the company has eliminated all mentions of the “Don’t be evil” mantra from its Code of Conduct.
An older version of its code of conduct from earlier this year that was saved by the Archive.orgwebsite contained the following:
The new code of conduct no longer centers around this motto, making almost no mention of it, except in passing at the very end of the multi-page document.
If the motto was truly just a marketing tactic, then there was little reason to minimize or discontinue it. However, after recently being called on it by its employees, Google may have started to believe that the “Don’t be evil” motto could encourage more employees to question and protest the company’s future projects that may be in an ethically grey area.
In the open letter to Google’s leadership, thousands of employees pleaded with the company to give up projects that can ultimately lead to people’s deaths, in an in effort to increase the company’s bottom line.
In the letter, the employees warned Google's leadership:
They also added that:
Should Google decide to use global internet users’ personal data for military purposes, it would violate the public trust that is fundamental to its business by putting its users’ lives and human rights in jeopardy.
What’s Google Without 'Don’t Be Evil?'
So now the question remains: What is Google now that it no longer seems to believe in “not being evil?” Is it just another corporation doing anything to make a buck? If so, this will not be without consequences for the company’s future. As evidenced by the letter signed by thousands of Google employees, going down this path could mean less interest from developers to work for the company.
In an older TED talk, Simon Sinek, a marketing consultant and author of “Start with Why,” raised the issue of companies needing to give their customers and users something in which to believe - a purpose that aligns with its user base’ motives and ideals. He argued that this is what pushes everyone, both employees and customers to make the company truly great.
This is what makes a company such as Apple so loved by its customer base, and it’s what has made many love Google for its “Don’t Be Evil” ideals in the past. All of that could be in jeopardy, if Google plans to renounce its "Don't be evil" ideal.
We’re already seeing how the company’s “cool new technologies” are no longer received with just praise and optimism, but also heavy criticism and skepticism. This trend could worsen to Google's detriment if more people start believing that the company is no longer looking after them or trying to do good with its technology, but just willing to do anything to chase a profit.
Don't be evil has been Google's corporate identity for the longest time, but now that's no longer true. Whether or not we'll like this new Google that can't commit to not being evil anymore remains to be seen, but some of its latest moves already point to an increasingly worrying direction for the company.
Google released an updated code of conduct, which for the first time in almost two decades removed almost all mentions of its “Don't be evil” mantra. The code of conduct embodies a company's values, principles, and ideals, so removing the "Don't be evil" motto from the code may give us a hint towards the direction in which Google is going.
One of the unique things about Google, aside from its thirst for advanced technology and solid software engineering, has been its motto: “Don’t be evil.” Many, including Steve Jobs, have criticized this motto as being nothing but a marketing tactic.
Even if that were true, and its leaders never truly believed in this idea, many Google users and Google employees did believe in the motto. It was part of Google’s charm, and part of what made the company one of the most beloved brands in the world.
Over the past few years, we’ve seen Google abandon end-to-end encryption projects, kill anti-censorship efforts that worked on its cloud infrastructure, and be involved in military projects which have the potential to do just as much “evil” as good.
volvement with the U.S. military and its work on autonomous drones, the company has eliminated all mentions of the “Don’t be evil” mantra from its Code of Conduct.
An older version of its code of conduct from earlier this year that was saved by the Archive.orgwebsite contained the following:
The new code of conduct no longer centers around this motto, making almost no mention of it, except in passing at the very end of the multi-page document.
If the motto was truly just a marketing tactic, then there was little reason to minimize or discontinue it. However, after recently being called on it by its employees, Google may have started to believe that the “Don’t be evil” motto could encourage more employees to question and protest the company’s future projects that may be in an ethically grey area.
In the open letter to Google’s leadership, thousands of employees pleaded with the company to give up projects that can ultimately lead to people’s deaths, in an in effort to increase the company’s bottom line.
In the letter, the employees warned Google's leadership:
They also added that:
Should Google decide to use global internet users’ personal data for military purposes, it would violate the public trust that is fundamental to its business by putting its users’ lives and human rights in jeopardy.
What’s Google Without 'Don’t Be Evil?'
So now the question remains: What is Google now that it no longer seems to believe in “not being evil?” Is it just another corporation doing anything to make a buck? If so, this will not be without consequences for the company’s future. As evidenced by the letter signed by thousands of Google employees, going down this path could mean less interest from developers to work for the company.
In an older TED talk, Simon Sinek, a marketing consultant and author of “Start with Why,” raised the issue of companies needing to give their customers and users something in which to believe - a purpose that aligns with its user base’ motives and ideals. He argued that this is what pushes everyone, both employees and customers to make the company truly great.
This is what makes a company such as Apple so loved by its customer base, and it’s what has made many love Google for its “Don’t Be Evil” ideals in the past. All of that could be in jeopardy, if Google plans to renounce its "Don't be evil" ideal.
We’re already seeing how the company’s “cool new technologies” are no longer received with just praise and optimism, but also heavy criticism and skepticism. This trend could worsen to Google's detriment if more people start believing that the company is no longer looking after them or trying to do good with its technology, but just willing to do anything to chase a profit.
Don't be evil has been Google's corporate identity for the longest time, but now that's no longer true. Whether or not we'll like this new Google that can't commit to not being evil anymore remains to be seen, but some of its latest moves already point to an increasingly worrying direction for the company.
