On March 20, 2025, the Karnataka High Court directed Google India and three of its senior executives to provide a bank guarantee covering 50% of a penalty exceeding Rs 5 crore. The penalty arises from allegations that Google India failed to secure prior RBI approval for foreign exchange related transactions, potentially violating provisions of the FEMA Act.

Google India's head of public policy, Sreenivasa Reddy, resigned on February 14, 2025, marking the second departure in this critical role over two years. His exit comes amid a period of heightened antitrust scrutiny and an expanding array of services, potentially reducing the company’s capacity to influence governmental policy in an environment where the relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government is closely watched.

Google India's head of public policy, Sreenivasa Reddy, resigned on February 13, 2025, marking the second departure in this key role over two years. This role is critical amid the company’s complex engagement with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government and a market characterized by increasing authoritarian influences.

Google's updated AI Principles remove prior commitments that barred the development of AI for weapons, surveillance, and other applications that could infringe on human rights. This policy change raises concerns about the potential use of its AI technologies in repressive applications.

Google has updated its AI guidelines by removing the previous ban on using its technology for weapons and surveillance. The change, announced via a blogpost in the company’s 2024 'Responsible AI' report, marks a departure from its earlier commitment to limit AI’s potentially harmful uses, and it signals potential collaboration with U.S. defense agencies.

Following a recent statement by U.S. President Donald Trump, Google quietly agreed to change the nomenclature on its Google Maps service, reflecting a policy to update place names if duly recorded in official US records. This move has raised concerns about the company's deference to political directives.

Google India has appointed Archana Gulati, previously a joint secretary at Modi's NITI Aayog and a senior official at India's antitrust watchdog, as its new head of India public policy. This move is viewed as a strategic alignment with government policy makers linked to authoritarian practices.

A report indicates that approximately 450 employees in Google India's offices in Gurugram, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad were laid off as part of a global downsizing effort driven by overhiring during the COVID-19 pandemic and shifting market conditions. The abrupt nature of the layoffs, including reports of impacted employees on maternity leave, raises concerns about the company’s commitment to fair labor practices.

Google India dismissed 453 employees from various departments late on February 16, 2023, following an internal review to align roles with strategic priorities. The abrupt mass termination has raised concerns regarding the company’s labor practices and treatment of workers.

Google India laid off 453 employees across various departments, as confirmed by an email sent by Sanjay Gupta, country head and vice president. This move is part of broader restructuring efforts and global cutbacks, raising concerns about the protection of worker rights and job security.