Google engineer fingered for writing diversity memo is fired

A software engineer who issued a 10-page memo against political correctness at Google has been fired by the company.

The memo, which was shared company-wide, was seen by many as a criticism of Google diversity policies, although the author concluded his memo by calling for the company to treat people as individuals.

"Treat people as individuals, not as just another member of their group," wrote the engineer, who has a PhD in biology, rather than computer science, and backed up all the assertions in the memo with links to research.

James Damore, who has now identified himself in an email confirming his departure for "perpetuating gender stereotypes", has said that he is "currently exploring all possible legal remedies".

Google CEO Sundar Pichai sent a company-wide note to employees saying that parts of the memo "violate our Code of Conduct and cross the line".

In an excerpt from the note sent to employees, Pichai wrote: "To suggest a group of our colleagues have traits that make them less biologically suited to that work is offensive and not okay."

He added, somewhat ironically: "Our co-workers shouldn't have to worry that each time they open their mouths to speak... they have to prove that they are not like the memo states..."

Supporters of Damore would argue that his dismissal illustrates the censorship of opinion that his email raised, having expressed his concern that Silicon Valley was so wrapped up in quotas that it could affect the ability for the right person to get the job, regardless of sex, background or any other attribute.

However, in the same email, he made references to ‘girls preferring creative processes' and ‘boys preferring coding'.

New Google diversity boss Danielle Brown, who yesterday posted an email response to her team, said: "We are unequivocal in our belief that diversity and inclusion are critical to our success as a company… We'll continue to stand for that and be committed to it for the long haul."

Googlers have been mixed in their levels of support for the sacking, but some have said that they believe it not only to be the right thing, but that they wouldn't wish to work with Damore.

The incident comes at a time when the US Department of Labour is already investigating Google for its lack of diversity, with 69 per cent of the workforce and 80 per cent of the technical staff being male, according to Google's own figures.