SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
A number of soylentils have written in to let us know that Google is opening up the possibility of being evil by eliminating it from their code of conduct. You've been warned.
"Don't be Evil" Starting to Disappear From Google's Code of Conduct
Google Removes 'Don't Be Evil' Clause From Its Code of Conduct
Google's unofficial motto has long been the simple phrase "don't be evil." But that's over, according to the code of conduct that Google distributes to its employees. The phrase was removed sometime in late April or early May, archives hosted by the Wayback Machine show.
[...] The updated version of Google's code of conduct still retains one reference to the company's unofficial motto—the final line of the document is still: "And remember... don't be evil, and if you see something that you think isn't right – speak up!"
Related: Google vs Maven
Google Employees on Pentagon AI Algorithms: "Google Should Not be in the Business of War"
Google Duplex: an AI that Can Make Phone Calls on Your Behalf
About a Dozen Google Employees Have Resigned Over Project Maven
Google to eliminate the "don't be evil"
According to Gizmodo, Google will remove it's "Don't Be Evil" from its code of conduct.
Google's unofficial motto has long been the simple phrase "don't be evil." But that's over, according to the code of conduct that Google distributes to its employees. The phrase was removed sometime in late April or early May, archives hosted by the Wayback Machine show.
"Don't be evil" has been part of the company's corporate code of conduct since 2000. When Google was reorganized under a new parent company, Alphabet, in 2015, Alphabet assumed a slightly adjusted version of the motto, "do the right thing." However, Google retained its original "don't be evil" language until the past several weeks. The phrase has been deeply incorporated into Google's company culture—so much so that a version of the phrase has served as the wifi password on the shuttles that Google uses to ferry its employees to its Mountain View headquarters, sources told Gizmodo.
Based on TFA, I think I would venture a guess that the new WiFi password is "be evil" ?
Previously I wasn't confused. Google wasn't evil, because they said they weren't evil. And they wouldn't lie because they are not evil. I know they are not evil, because they say so, and they wouldn't lie about it.
(Score: 2) by All Your Lawn Are Belong To Us on Monday May 21 2018, @02:22PM
The motto missed at the very beginning on several different fronts.
"Don't Be Evil" may be functionally equivalent to uphold the ethical value of nonmaleficence (do not do harm). However, there is no corresponding compulsion to Do Good (beneficence.) Google may therefore walk a line which isn't actively harming anyone, but is not making good appear in proportion to its size (or profits) either.
But it also may not be functionally equivalent. The difference between "don't be evil" and nonmaleficence: Harm can be pointed to, or what is potentially harmful may be described. You can say, "hey, that act caused harm!" It may be debated, or a greater purpose may come from the harm. But what "evil" is... It may be described as the opposite of good. But one has to select what actions or qualities are either good or evil to truly understand what they are. Google has not literally killed anybody (as in, held an execution on their campus grounds).... so are they good, then? What if I choose that any entity possessing resources greater than necessary for the survival of the organism is evil? Harm is a much more definable subject than evil.
And it is interesting if they forget to not be evil, well now I suppose that's forgivable then? But the notion to speak up if something isn't right actually works in Google's favor, for the employee who speaks up about something "not right" that the company doesn't agree is wrong can be marked much more easily than someone harboring virtues secretly and acting in accordance with them. And if the employee who speaks up about something not right is agreed with the company's values are advanced. It's win-win for the company, unless the right to speak up even when wrong is protected to some degree (i.e. where's a safe harbor for a whistleblower?) - just curious.
This sig for rent.