Question

Transcultural global ethics always maintains the value of human rights. Have Google’s operations been consistent with the value of human rights?

Answer 1

Many activists and watchdogs argue that Google has not always done enough to promote or even protect human rights around the world. This is usually the result of efforts by Google to market its search engine in nations like China, where the state has an interest in maintaining censorship of search results. The project, known as Dragonfly, was recently abandoned by Google.

In recent years, Google was among the companies that faced criticism for marketing an app that allowed men in Saudi Arabia to track the locations of their wives by using their cell phones. This was seen as an affront to women's rights, and the company withdrew the product after criticism from the media and shareholders. Google's interest in artificial intelligence has also led to criticism about its commitment to ethical practices and to human rights.

At the same time, there is no doubt that Google has expanded people's access to information and to many other online services around the world. It has made several global public statements against censorship. Its most vocal critics, indeed, have pointed to its previous stands for free access to information in pointing out the hypocrisy of Dragonfly and other ventures.