Google announced the shaping of a global council on applied science ethics last week to some deserved trepidation . for certain , the company had amass somehighly qualifiedindividuals to fill seats on this board — but Google ’s track book of come after its own intimate moral philosophy codes is less than spotless .

What chivy the most outrage , however , was the appointment of Kay Coles James to the Advanced Technology External Advisory Council , a former lackey in the George W. Bush administration and the current president of the conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation . She ’s follow under fire , in the press , and now by Googlers themselves , for views wide deemedto be transphobic .

“ In select James , Google is make clear that its version of ‘ ethics ’ values proximity to power over the wellbeing of trans hoi polloi , other LGBTQ citizenry , and immigrant , ” Googlers and academics indite in an exposed letter of the alphabet today . “ Such a position straight off contravenes Google ’s state values [ … ] By name James to the ATEAC , Google elevates and plunk for her views , implying that hers is a valid perspective suitable of inclusion in its decision making . This is unacceptable . ” The letter ’s undersigned demand her immediate removal from the board .

Kay Coles James sits beside president Trump

Kay Coles James sits beside president TrumpPhoto: Chip Somodevilla (Getty)

Kent Walker , Google ’s SVP of Global Affairs announce the organization of ATEAC during the EmTech Digital league last week . He ’s previously spoken at the Heritage Foundation aboutincreasingcross - edge surveillance .

One of the other eight penis of ATEAC , Carnegie Melon Information Technology and Public Policy professor Alessandro Acquisti , has already announced his surrender from the boardvia Twitter . It ’s indecipherable if his decision was influence by the recoil against James .

Google ’s recent forays into a Pentagon drone AI program and a censored Formosan search railway locomotive make this latest misstep all the more predictable : Google has grown to such a size that its only selection for continued elaboration seem to admit the undermining of itsfoundationalvalues . Flirtations with entrenched political and military power have , in most recent illustration , been fit with similar repercussion from the company ’s own worker , often in the mannikin of like open letter .

Argentina’s President Javier Milei (left) and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., holding a chainsaw in a photo posted to Kennedy’s X account on May 27. 2025.

In the cause of Project Maven , the aforementioned Pentagon program , as well as arbitrament agreements which were previously baked into employee contracts , worker backlash generatedtangibleresults .

Google was not forthwith available to comment on its decision to appoint James .

Theletteris reproduced below in full :

William Duplessie

Google must remove Kay Cole James from its Advanced Technology External Advisory Council ( ATEAC ) .

On March 27 , four day before Trans Day of Visibility , Google announced the members of its Advanced Technology External Advisory Council ( ATEAC ) , which is tasked with inform the company ’s decisions around AI and other engineering . Among those appointed to ATEAC is Kay Coles James , the President of the Heritage Foundation , who is vocally anti - trans , anti - LGBTQ , and anti - immigrant .

Her phonograph record speaks for itself — over , and over , and over again .

Starship Test 9

In selecting James , Google is making clear that its version of “ ethics ” value law of proximity to power over the wellbeing of trans people , other LGBTQ mass , and immigrants . Such a emplacement directly contravenes Google ’s stated values . Many have emphasized this publicly , and a professor appoint to ATEAC has already resigned in the wake of the tilt .

Appointing James to ATEAC also significantly undermines Google ’s locating on AI ethics and comeliness . The potential damage of AI are not evenly distributed , and trace historical pattern of discrimination and exclusion . From AI that doesn’t recognize trans people,doesn’t “ hear”more feminine voice , and doesn’t “ see” women of coloring material , to AI used to enhance police surveillance,profile immigrants , and automate weapons — those who are most marginalize are most at risk . Not only are James ’ take in counter to Google ’s stated values , but they are directly antagonistic to the labor of control that the development and diligence of AI prioritizes justice over profit . Such a project should or else place representatives from vulnerable communities at the center of decision - making .

Google can not take to support trans people and its trans employee — a universe that confront actual and corporeal threats — and simultaneously appoint someone trust to trans erasure to a key AI consultatory position . Given this , we call on Google to remove Kay Coles James from ATEAC .

Lilo And Stitch 2025

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2,476 Googlers *

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