During a Nunavut election debate held on 2025-04-25, Google Meet was employed to broadcast the discussion, thereby facilitating democratic engagement and public political discourse in a remote region.

Google has rolled out a stringent return-to-office policy requiring certain remote employees to work from an office at least three days a week or face potential job cuts. This policy, affecting teams such as Google Technical Services and People Operations, is part of a broader restructuring effort to free up resources for AI initiatives.

Google has warned certain remote employees that failing to return to the office at least three days a week could lead to job cuts. This directive, driven by cost-cutting measures and increased investments in AI, raises concerns about workers' rights and the erosion of flexible work policies established during the pandemic.

Google released an updated Supplier Code of Conduct in March 2025 which details robust commitments to fair labor practices, human rights, non-discrimination, and ethical operations across its supply chain. The Code outlines detailed standards for suppliers to adhere to international human rights and labor law benchmarks, emphasizing protections against forced labor, discrimination, and unsafe work conditions.

Alphabet Inc, the parent company behind Google Meet, reported lobbying expenditures of approximately $14.79 million and political contributions totaling over $20.6 million during the 2024 election cycle. These financial activities have raised transparency concerns regarding the influence of corporate money on political processes.

Google Meet released its 2023 Statement Against Modern Slavery, outlining its commitment to ethical business practices, ensuring safe working conditions, respecting worker rights, and enforcing transparency in its supply chains in compliance with various modern slavery and forced labour legislations.

OpenSecrets data reveals that Alphabet Inc, the parent company linked to Google Meet, spent $14,450,000 on lobbying in 2023, demonstrating significant corporate political influence.

Between January and September 2023, Google significantly increased its lobbying efforts in California by spending a record $1.5 million. The company funneled $1.2 million to a taxpayers group to run political ads against the proposed California Journalism Preservation Act, and its leadership engaged with state officials. These actions sought to influence legislative debates and discredit efforts to secure funding for local journalism.

Google has implemented a policy limiting remote work by tying attendance to performance reviews and increasing in-office monitoring. This move has drawn criticism from the Alphabet Workers Union, which argues that the policy undermines worker agency and disregards employee professionalism.

An investigative report highlights that despite Google's public commitment to prohibit engagement with suppliers practicing modern slavery, its supply chain practices remain problematic. The company's reliance on suppliers like Foxconn, known for labor rights violations including the use of forced Uyghur labor, is critiqued for lacking legally binding enforcement measures, suggesting that economic interests take precedence over robust human rights protections.