Google Employees Revolt Over Project Dragonfly

Google’s internal tensions escalated in 2018 when it was revealed that the company was secretly working on "Project Dragonfly", a censored search engine designed to comply with China’s strict internet regulations. 

The project aimed to enable Google’s return to the Chinese market, which it exited in 2010 over censorship concerns.

The revelation sparked outrage among Google employees, thousands of whom signed an open letter condemning the project, citing ethical concerns about enabling government oppression. Some even resigned in protest.

Facing mounting pressure, Google eventually stated that Project Dragonfly was "just an exploration" and had been put on hold. 

However, the controversy highlighted the ongoing struggle between big tech companies and ethical concerns surrounding business operations in authoritarian regimes.