Alphabet Drops Diversity and Inclusion as Workplace Priority

San Francisco, Feb 6, 2025 – Alphabet, the parent company of Google, has quietly removed diversity and inclusion from its list of workplace priorities, according to a recent regulatory filing.

In its annual 10-K report submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Wednesday, Alphabet omitted its previous commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace.

A line that had been included in the prior year’s report stated:
“At Alphabet, we are committed to making diversity, equity, and inclusion part of everything we do and to growing a workforce that is representative of the users we serve.”

However, this statement has now been removed. Internally, Alphabet has also informed employees that the company will no longer set hiring goals based on race or gender.

A Google spokesperson responded to the changes, stating:

“We remain committed to creating a workplace where all employees have equal opportunities to succeed. Over the past year, we have been reviewing our programs to ensure they align with our goals. As a federal contractor, we are also making necessary adjustments following recent court decisions and executive orders on this topic.”

The move follows a series of actions by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticized DEI initiatives. Just last month, Trump issued an executive order banning diversity programs, declaring them illegal.

AI Policy Changes at Google

Alphabet’s filing also comes a day after Google revised its artificial intelligence (AI) principles, removing previous pledges not to develop AI for weapons or surveillance purposes.

These policy shifts coincide with Google’s leadership attending Trump’s recent inauguration alongside other top tech executives. Shortly after taking office, Trump rescinded an executive order issued by former President Joe Biden, which had mandated safety guidelines for AI development.

With fewer regulations now in place, U.S. tech companies racing for AI dominance face fewer obligations to disclose risks associated with the technology—whether to national security, the economy, or the public.  Source: BSS/AFP

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