Margaret Mitchell, co-leader of Google’s ethical AI team, says the company fired her after an investigation into her use of corporate email.
Why is it important?: Google was already under fire for its overthrow of Timnit Gebru, the other co-leader of the team. Mitchell has been blocked out of corporate email since last month after what a source claims was his effort to seek evidence by corporate correspondence supporting Gebru’s claim of discrimination and harassment.
The move comes on the same day Google announced internally that it had completed the investigation into Gebru’s exit, Axios first reported. The company did not disclose the results of this research, but announced a number of policy changes, including linking company-wide executive salaries to diversity and inclusion efforts.
Between lines: Mitchell too posted a tweet critical of Google’s treatment of Gebru and a subsequent meeting between CEO Sundar Pichai and historically black college and university leaders.
“Say you have a problem with the constant alienation of black women and that you have caused serious damage to your lives. You can: A) try to undo that damage B) try to find more blacks that you like (focus on tokenism). Good sort …. “
– Margaret Mitchell, in a January Twitter post
What they say:
- Mitchell, on Twitter: “I’m fired.”
- Google, in a statement to Axios: “After reviewing this manager’s conduct, we confirmed that there were several violations of our code of conduct, as well as our security policies, which included the leaking of confidential documents and confidential private data to other companies “.
Deepen: Google tweaks diversity, research policies after research