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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Google Leaks summary
Zach Vorhies
Kent Hecklively
A Whistleblower's Exposé of Big Tech Censorship
19 mins
Brief summary
Google Leaks by Zach Vorhies is an account of the author’s experiences as a Google employee and his decision to expose the company’s censorship and bias against conservative views.
Table of Contents
Google Leaks
Summary of 6 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 6
Donald Trump’s election marked a political turning point for Google.
One morning in November 2016, when Zach Vorhies turned up for work at the Google offices in San Bruno, California, he couldn’t believe his eyes. The night before, Donald Trump had been elected US president – and it seemed like everyone at Google was losing their minds.
Some were crying and talking as if a close relative had died. Others had decided to take the entire day off.
To Vorhies, it seemed that these people lacked a fundamental grasp of civics. As a democracy, the United States has regular elections. You do your best to win them, but if you lose, you take it on the chin, and focus on doing a better job next time.
But that didn’t seem to be what was happening at Google.
The key message here is: Donald Trump’s election marked a political turning point for Google.
Everywhere he went, Vorhies heard employees talking about how unfair the election had been, and insisting that a resistance was needed to tackle Trump. It seemed like idle chatter at first – until employees were told to tune in to a weekly meeting, broadcast live from the Google headquarters in Mountain View, California.
From the start, the atmosphere was eerie. Many Google employees wear a quirky company hat, a bright striped beanie with a little propeller on top. Normally it seems harmless – playful, even. But, surveying row upon row of employees – many wearing the same hat and all seemingly united in their political goals – the uniformity suddenly struck Vorhies as sinister.
In the broadcast meeting, Sergey Brin, cofounder of Google and CEO of its parent company Alphabet, described Trump’s election as “deeply offensive.” Kent Walker, the company’s Vice President for Global Affairs, blamed Trump’s victory on xenophobia and hatred. And Ruth Porat, the Chief Financial Officer, encouraged employees to console each other with hugs.
Later on, a Google employee asked what the company could do to tackle the misinformation and fake news that had supposedly led to Trump’s election. Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google, responded.
Vorhies found what Pichai said simultaneously vague and alarming. Pichai claimed this was an opportunity to make progress in machine learning and artificial intelligence. So far, those systems had been used to tackle things like bullying and hurtful comments. But once they were scaled up, machine learning and AI would be used to do much more.
And for the first time, Vorhies had an inkling of just what Google intended to do.
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What is Google Leaks about?
Google Leaks (2021) is the no-holds-barred story of one former Google employee, who claims that the search giant has been corrupted by political bias and is pursuing a course of deliberate online censorship. It details the author’s journey after Donald Trump’s election from satisfied employee to unflinching corporate whistleblower .
Google Leaks Review
Google Leaks (2021) is a fascinating book that sheds light on a controversial subject and is definitely worth reading. Here are three reasons why this book stands out:
- With exclusive insider knowledge and firsthand accounts, it provides a unique perspective on the inner workings of one of the world's most influential companies.
- Delving into the world of tech giants and their impact on society, it offers thought-provoking insights that will make you question the role of technology in our lives.
- By exposing behind-the-scenes secrets and raising important ethical questions, it keeps readers engaged and eager to uncover the truth behind what goes on in the tech industry.
Who should read Google Leaks?
- Tech lovers concerned by the the growth of online megacorporations
- Political aficionados interested in the years of Trump’s presidency
- Free-speech advocates concerned by the erosion of civil liberties
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Google Leaks FAQs
What is the main message of Google Leaks?
The main message of Google Leaks is exposing the internal workings and biases of Google through firsthand accounts and leaked documents.
How long does it take to read Google Leaks?
The reading time for Google Leaks varies, but it typically takes several hours. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Google Leaks a good book? Is it worth reading?
Google Leaks is an eye-opening read that provides insights into the practices and influence of Google. It is definitely worth reading.
Who is the author of Google Leaks?
The author of Google Leaks is Zach Vorhies and Kent Hecklively.
What to read after Google Leaks?
If you're wondering what to read next after Google Leaks, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Privacy Is Power by Carissa Véliz
- Permanent Record by Edward Snowden
- The WikiLeaks Files by Julian Assange (introduction)
- The Wealth Money Can't Buy by Robin Sharma
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- Bad Blood by John Carreyrou
- Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
- The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma
- Zucked by Roger McNamee
- The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson