Google would have paid £ 4,000 to settle a lawsuit for racial discrimination in the UK – TechCrunch

Google paid £ 4,000 to settle a lawsuit for discrimination that claims to have not done enough to protect an entrepreneur from racial profiling while he was working on an infiltration project for Google Maps in shopping malls, reports Guardian. The contractor, a British citizen of Moroccan origin, said that he had been subjected to frequent harassment, including asking him if he was a terrorist, while he was gathering information about Wi-Fi signals in the stores, and that the situation was exacerbated because he had been ordered to not disclose that he was conducting searches for Google.

Ahmed Rashid (this is not his real name) has contracted with Google last year to work on Expedite, a project designed to help in-house mapping in malls. Rashid told the Guardian that he had sued the company when a new contract offer had been withdrawn after he complained of being harassed in the exercise of his duties. functions. Google denied the wrongdoing, but paid to settle the case. Rashid agreed to sign a confidentiality agreement, but decided to speak after the global walkout organized by Google employees to protest against sexual harassment and other forms of discrimination.

"There was total disregard for the safety and the interest of the contractors. This research was conducted in secret at the expense of the security of Google's contractors, which corresponds to a stereotypical Muslim / Arab profile, "Rashid said, adding that Google did not think about how searchers to" find out. " Arab origin would be treated. No Arabs on the board who designs this project.

According to Rashid, his team ran the stores every six, eight, or twelve minutes, while recording information about the power and range of their Wi-Fi signals through a private Google app on their phone. Rashid's claims that he was frequently the victim of racial profiling and harassment were corroborated by a member of the White Team who also spoke to the Guardian despite the signature of a NDA. concerning the project.

"It would have been helpful for all of us to have an ID card because we were all arrested, but many of us did not have any problems because we were white. Google could have done more to help, "said the team member.

Rashid asked Google to let him wear a badge to avoid harassment, but was ignored until he complained of being monitored by security in a center. London in September. Rashid says a new contract that was promised to him was withdrawn later the same day.

While Google's policies on sexual harassment, including forced arbitration (announced by the company after the strikes), have been reviewed, Rashid believes that the company must also address other issues. "We have to fight against sexual misconduct, but nobody talks about cross-cutting issues, such as institutional discrimination and racism," he said. Other employees also made similar calls, including event organizers, who wrote, "The company must address systemic racism and discrimination, including pay equity and promotion rates. , not just sexual harassment. "

TechCrunch has contacted Google for a comment. In a statement to The Guardian, the company said, "We often work with service providers to measure the power of the Wi-Fi signal, which helps us improve Google's mapping products. All employees and contractors receive clear instructions describing their project and role in detail, and they are instructed to indicate frankly that they work for Google. "