**The AI Industry’s Dark Underbelly: Google DeepMind Staffers Fear for Safety Amid ICE Concerns**
I’ve been following the recent tensions between AI companies and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with growing unease. The latest development is that Google DeepMind staff are sounding the alarm about their own safety. Yeah, you read that right – their own safety.
According to internal messages obtained by WIRED, employees at the AI research firm are expressing concerns about their physical protection from ICE while on company premises. It’s not just speculation – the fear is real. The messages, shared on an internal message board, reveal a desperate search for reassurance from management about plans and policies to keep them safe. One worker asked, “What sorts of plans and insurance policies are in place to ensure our security on the workplace? Coming to and from work?” The response was overwhelming, with over 20 “plus emojis” reactions from fellow Google DeepMind staffers.
The silence from senior leaders at Google, including CEO Sundar Pichai and DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, is deafening. It’s like they’re hoping the issue will just magically disappear. But it won’t. The controversy surrounding AI companies’ ties with ICE is only going to get louder.
This isn’t the first time AI companies have faced internal divisions over their work with ICE. Palantir, another AI lab, has been the subject of controversy due to its ties with the federal agency. Staff at Palantir have questioned the company’s decision to work with ICE, with one employee writing in Slack, “In my view, ICE are the bad guys. I’m not proud that the company I work for is part of this.”
As the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown continues to escalate, AI companies like Google and Palantir face increasing pressure to address the concerns of their international staff. Many of these employees are in the USA on visas, and the companies have had to provide increased protections for them. In recent years, Google and Apple have advised employees on visas not to leave the country after the White House toughened its vetting of visa candidates.
But what’s the plan to keep these employees safe? Is it just a matter of lip service, or will the companies take concrete action to distance themselves from ICE’s controversial tactics?
The debate rages on, and it’s clear that the AI industry is no stranger to controversy. But as the stakes continue to rise, it remains to be seen whether the companies will prioritize the safety and well-being of their staff over their lucrative contracts with ICE.
**Source:** [Wired article](https://www.wired.com/story/google-deepmind-staffers-ice-office-questions-safety/)
