Google has become synonymous with online searches, mastering the organization, classification, and storage of information. However, according to The New York Times, the company has spent over a decade instructing its employees to do the opposite: Delete, hide, and minimize their internal communications to avoid leaving any traces behind. This revelation has come to light as part of Google’s antitrust case.
Why this matters. The practice of systematically deleting much of its internal documentation has led to sharp criticism from three federal judges. They’ve pointed out that Google’s corporate culture is designed to hinder potential future antitrust investigations. In fact, the company is currently undergoing one, which could result in significant consequences.
Behind the scenes. The issue began in 2008 when Google faced antitrust scrutiny over its advertising deal with Yahoo. In response, the company purportedly circulated a confidential internal memo urging employees to “think twice” before discussing “hot topics” and to avoid speculation.
Going into detail. According to the outlet, Google implemented several communication strategies:
- It configured its instant messaging tools to automatically delete conversations after a set period.
- It encouraged the indiscriminate use of attorney-client privilege.
- It created lists of prohibited words, including “markets,” “market share,” and “dominance.”
- It instructed employees to include lawyers in email communications, even when legal input was unnecessary.
Digging deep. The severity of the issue became apparent when the Department of Justice disclosed that Google had withheld tens of thousands of documents by claiming confidentiality privileges. The district court rejected this approach.
District Judge James Donato described it almost a year ago as “a frontal assault on the fair administration of justice.” Similarly, District Judge Leonie Brinkema said that “an awful lot of evidence has likely been destroyed.”
A plot twist. In a surprising turn of events, Google reversed these policies in 2023. It now saves all employee communications by default, creating a record of those conversations. However, The New York Times reports that some employees quickly adapted by using WhatsApp groups with automatic message deletion, which they found more comfortable to use.
The irony is striking. A company that built its empire on the promise of organizing the world’s information spent years training its employees to leave no trace. Many see Google’s corporate culture as one that’s rooted in secrecy, distrust, and risk avoidance.
Google’s response. The tech company has since responded. In a statement to The Verge, Google spokesperson Peter Schottenfels said:
“We take seriously our obligations to preserve and produce relevant documents. We have for years responded to inquiries and litigation, and we educate our employees about legal privilege. In the DOJ cases alone, we have produced millions of documents including chat messages and documents not covered by legal privilege.”
Image | Michael Dziedzic
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