Ahead of Election Day in the US, Google warned employees to limit sharing political opinions on its internal forum Memegen, according to CNBC.
Despite warnings, many employees continued to post election-related memes and even criticize company policies.
The move reflects Google's efforts to maintain its role as a trusted source of information, as CEO Sundar Pichai reminded in a company-wide memo on November 4.
He stressed that Google must maintain objectivity and responsibility in products like Google Search, Google News and YouTube.
Since 2019, Google has implemented policies that restrict offensive or politically controversial speech internally. These regulations have caused mixed reactions, with some employees saying they are too strict.
In 2021, the company continued to face internal opposition related to a $1.2 billion contract with Israel through Project Nimbus, leading to the suspension of an internal forum after many comments opposing the project.
In September, Google announced new rules for Memegen, expanding the ban on political discussion and increasing its AI technology to police content. The new rules prohibit personal opinions on politics, national policies, international events, and geopolitical issues, with a warning that three violations will result in a ban.
In addition to internal policies, Google was also asked by the US National Labor Committee to publicly disclose employees' rights to discuss working conditions, after an employee accused the company of restricting free speech.
