Google trims legal investigations team sparking concerns about regulatory compliance
What's the story
Google has reportedly laid off about a third of its 'Legal Investigations' team, according to a statement from the Alphabet Workers United-CWA union.
The team, which had less than 100 members before the layoffs, is responsible for managing law enforcement and public data requests and ensuring global regulatory compliance.
The union has raised concerns that staffing shortages have already impacted Google's ability to promptly respond to requests, leading to a significant backlog and potential security risks for sensitive user data.
Safety concerns
Union highlights potential risks of Google's staff reduction
The union underscored the importance of the Legal Investigations team's work, which often aids law enforcement in locating individuals in crisis situations such as kidnappings, child sexual abuse, school shootings, missing persons cases, and instances of self-harm.
It warned that the layoffs could compromise public safety initiatives, Google's global legal and regulatory compliance, and the security of users' private data.
The union fears these cuts could jeopardize both public safety and user data security.
Company statement
Google responds to union's concerns over layoffs
In response to the union's concerns, a Google spokesperson stated that those laid off had the opportunity to apply for other roles within the company.
"While some roles were consolidated in new US locations, fewer than a dozen roles on the team were eliminated," said the spokesperson.
They further clarified that Google is consolidating some of the team's work to existing hubs while maintaining high standards for user safety, data integrity, and timely response to law enforcement requests.