Comparative Business Ethics: Google's Pentagon Contract Analysis

This report provides a detailed analysis of the ethical and social responsibility issues that arose from Google's contract with the Pentagon, specifically concerning the development of artificial intelligence for drone warfare. The report begins with a summary of the contract and the ensuing employee protests, which stemmed from concerns about the ethical implications of using AI in military applications and Google's corporate social responsibility. It identifies key ethical issues, including corporate social responsibility, leadership, and corporate citizenship, highlighting the employees' concerns about the potential misuse of technology and the impact on human lives. The report then suggests ethical decisions Google could make, such as developing a more transparent decision-making structure and reevaluating its policies on military contracts. Finally, it outlines a seven-step ethical decision-making process that Google could use to navigate similar situations in the future, emphasizing the importance of considering employee perspectives and upholding ethical values in business practices. The report concludes that ethical considerations are essential for organizations to maintain their reputation, retain talent, and make responsible business decisions.

Comparative Business Ethics
and Social Responsibility

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
1. SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT..........................................................................................2
2. THE KEY ETHICAL ISSUE/S/ CONCERNS RAISED IN THE ARTICLE ...........................3
3. ETHICAL DECISIONS...............................................................................................................4
4. DECISION MAKING PROCESS...............................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Business ethics are essential for each and every organisation in order to perform various
business functions effectively and to achieve its goals. There are various issues and problems
arise within an organisation with regard to ethical values and believes. Present report will focus
on a recent issue occurred in Google which is one of the most successful companies across
world. Recent news article represented that there is a critical issue Google is facing; it is related
to the employees who resigned in protest against Pentagon contract. The report will determine
effective arguments made within the article chosen. Furthermore, the main ethical issue raised
within the article will be discussed in the report. In addition to this, appropriate ethical decisions
will be provided as recommendations for the situation.
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Illustration 1: Employees in Google
(Source: Google Employees Resigning En Masse in Protest against Pentagon Contract, 2018)

1. SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT
Google recently made a contract with Pentagon, headquarter of United States Department
of Defence located in Arlington County. The contract included development of artificial
intelligence (AI) for using drones in order to help in speeding up the analysis of drone footage by
classifying the pictures of people and objects. The issue faced by Google was regarding
employee’s resignation for protest against contract Pentagon Contract. The employees were
protesting due to various reasons wherein, main reason for this protest was ethics of using
artificial intelligence in drone warfare where few believe that such lethal and critical decisions
should not be taken by machines or computers. Some employees also resigned due to the concern
about Google's political judgements. The employees are not happy with Google's decisions as
according to them, it was ethically wrong. Computer technologies such as drone can provide
incorrect information that can risk lives of people and defence force.
Google also defended their decision by publishing a statement which states that the new
technology is utilised to visualize picture or images for human review and developed with an
intention to save lives of people as well as help people to do intense work. Google confronted
that they are highly engaged in their work for the discussion of the same topic. There are around
4000 employees who have signed an inner postulation asking the company to cancel their
contract immediately and develop a policy on future work for military. Historically, Google has
encouraged an open culture which motivates or encourages employees to debate or challenge
product decisions. But recently some employees feel that the leadership is no longer much
attentive towards their concerns. Artificial intelligence is not yet deployed in law enforcement
and military applications (Visser and Tolhurst, 2017).
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2. THE KEY ETHICAL ISSUE/S/ CONCERNS RAISED IN THE ARTICLE
The news article raised various ethical issues or concerns. According to the employees,
the new contract made by Google was not ethically justified. Trusting on computers or machines
in military warfare may be dangerous and threat to lives of people. This also raised a concern for
people living in United States. It’s a fact that machines, computers or any technology cannot
replace human efforts or work. Therefore, it developed and raised several issues related to
corporate social responsibilities within an organisation. These issues or concerns can be
described as below -
 Corporate social responsibility – The issue related to article presented that according to
employees, Google is not socially responsible in their work or practices related to the
recently made contract. People all around the world have a great image for Google. It has
been serving people with impressive products and services along with innovative
technologies. The decision of using artificial technology in military is not acceptable for
people as well as employees working in company. According to ethics or corporate social
responsibilities, Google should consider a fact that using machines or computer in
military functions such as drone for flagging the images is not appropriate or suitable.
This a major issue raised in the article; employees in Google need their company to
cancel this contract as it can harm people's lives and even cause a danger for military or
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Illustration 2: Image captured by Drone
(Source: Google Is Helping the Pentagon Build AI for Drones, 2018)

nation's security. The issue or concern was trusting drones or computer technology for
capturing images in warfare. This can be very risky as machines can render improper or
false data and information. This information may lead to a great barrier in security or
practices performed by the defence forces in United States (Schwartz, 2017)
 Leadership – According to employees working in Google, the decision of developing
Pentagon Drone contract was not at all appropriate. The employees protested against their
employer or company by resignations. It is a concern or issue related to leadership
practices performed by Google. The ethical consideration states that an organisation,
company or employer needs to have effective leadership qualities including decision
making, solving issues or problems of the employees and perform ethical business
practices which can motivate the people employed with them. In order to expand business
or earning profit, an organisation or company cannot take decisions without considering
employee’s suggestions and views. Google made Pentagon contract without noticing or
identifying the issues it can develop.
 Corporate citizenship – Employees protested by resigning in Google have shown their
concern as a citizen related to effective functioning or operations performed by military
or defence force as well as security of the country. This was an act in favour of corporate
citizenship done by employees of Google. They disagreed and refused to accept the use
of drone in military warfare. Being responsible citizens, employees put their resignations
and demanded to cancel Pentagon contract as soon as possible. They also demanded to
make policies for future military practices or projects.
3. ETHICAL DECISIONS
In order to control and manage this situation or issue, Google needs to take various
ethical decisions with respect to concerns of the employees and other individuals getting
influenced with the contract making decision of the company. Google cloud CEO Diane Green
presented a speech supporting Project Maven. It is also stated that Google will draft new policy
related to ethical utilising of machine learning. Google should focus on developing a more
transparent decision making structure within their organisation. This can be helpful for the
organisations as well as employees for sharing and understanding various perspectives and ideas
related to business decisions (Wirt, 2017).
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In addition to this, it is also very important to develop new policies related to work
practices of company related to use of machines and technologies. According to the employees,
Google should not use machines for any unethical practices such as war and military activities.
The other ethical decision that Google can take is to retain their employees or talent by
cancelling the contract of using drone for military practices. It can be done with respect to
different factors which can influence employees, organisation and citizens of the nation.
It is important for Google to understand the need of taking ethical decisions presently as
its employees are protesting and deciding to leave their jobs. Employees are the main elements of
each and every organisation. It is important to retain talented and skilled employees. The issue
raised due to the pentagon contract needs to be resolved as soon as possible. Therefore, Google
needs to focus on new leadership style, decision making procedures as well as ethical policies
related to the use of technology in right things or purposes.
4. DECISION MAKING PROCESS
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Illustration 3: Decision making process
(Source: Decision making process, 2017)

In order to resolve the issue raised in Google, the organisation can effectively use seven
steps of ethical decision making. These steps can help and support the company to overcome the
issue or situation. The seven steps of ethical decision making can be explained as below -
1. State the issue or problem – For example in the article the problem was employee protest
due to the Pentagon contract.
2. Check the facts – The data and facts regarding issue of employee protest, according to the
article main reason for this was using computers for flagging images in military.
3. The elements included such as Google, Pentagon - Department of Defence and
employees.
4. Identify relevant factors such as retaining employees
5. Devolving a list of alternatives or options such as forming new ethical policies
6. Testing the options – The nest step is to test various options among all in order to identify
which is the best one.
7. Make a choice and review - This step includes making a choice and reviewing its
application.
CONCLUSION
The above report concluded that it is very important for organisations or companies to
perform ethical functions or activities in their business. Ethical values such as corporate social
responsibilities, leadership, etc. are very important to be considered while taking any business
decision. The above report analysed a recent news article related to an issue raised in Google by
signing a contract with Pentagon. The report also determined that employees are very important
for every company and therefore, it is necessary to involve employees in decision making
process.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Schwartz, M.S., 2017. Corporate social responsibility. Routledge.
Visser, W. and Tolhurst, N., 2017. The world guide to CSR: A country-by-country analysis of
corporate sustainability and responsibility. Routledge.
Wirt, F.M., 2017. Politics, products, and markets: Exploring political consumerism past and
present. Routledge.
Google Employees Resigning En Masse In Protest Against Pentagon Contract, 2018.[Online].
Available through :<http://www.ubergizmo.com/2018/05/google-employees-resigning-
pentagon-contract/>
Google Is Helping the Pentagon Build AI for Drones, 2018. [Online]. Available
through:<https://gizmodo.com/google-is-helping-the-pentagon-build-ai-for-drones-
1823464533>
Decision making process, 2017. [Online]. Availaible
through:<https://www.slideshare.net/wicaksana/decision-making-16151977>
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