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- Google CEO Sundar Pichai reportedly sent an email to LGBTQ employees saying the company would be taking a "hard look" at its harassment policies and work more closely with internal LGBTQ groups.
- The email comes one week after YouTube’s controversial decision not to remove videos of conservative commentator Steven Crowder that contained homophobic slurs aimed at Vox journalist, Carlos Maza.
- "With respect to YouTube, Susan and the team are already taking a hard look at the harassment policies and will do this in consultation with many groups, including people who have themselves experienced harassment," Pichai wrote.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
One week after YouTube’s controversial decision not to remove videos that contained homophobic slurs, Google CEO Sundar Pichai reportedly sent an email to LGBTQ employees saying the company was taking a "hard look" at its harassment policies and would work more closely with internal LGBTQ groups.
"With respect to YouTube, Susan and the team are already taking a hard look at the harassment policies and will do this in consultation with many groups, including people who have themselves experienced harassment," Pichai said in the emai obtained by the Verge. "We’re also thinking through ways to engage more with our LGBTQ+ community at important moments."
It was not clear from the report if Pichai’s email was sent to all Google employees, addressed to LGBTQ+ employees, or if the email was sent only to a specific group of individuals at Google.
On Monday, YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki apologized at a tech conference in Arizona for the hurt caused by her team’s decision not to take down videos from conservative commentator Steven Crowder, though she said that based on the company’s current policies, she stood by the decision.
According to the Verge, Pichai and members of his leadership team (not including Wojcicki) met with members of the company’s LGBTQ groups on Tuesday to discuss a "pattern" of issues and how it can consult with internal LGBTQ leaders on policy decisions.
Pichai also echoed Wojcicki’s apology and said he "especially regret[ed]" the incident taking place during Pride month, according to the email.
Google did not immediately respond to Business Insider’s request for comment.
Read the Verge’s story for a Pichai’s full email.
See Also:
- YouTube’s CEO was asked whether she actually meant her apology to the LGBTQ community, and the crowd broke out in applause
- YouTube CEO apologized to the LGBTQ community for not banning videos involving homophobic slurs last week, but says she stands by the decision
- Larry Page and Sergey Brin spoke at a Google all-hands meeting for the first time in 6 months
Source: Business Insider – nbastone@businessinsider.com (Nick Bastone)