Updates
Google Rolls Back Responsible AI Principles, Breaking Promise to Limit Military Use of Its Products
February 5, 2025

On February 4, Google announced an overhaul of the company’s Responsible AI principles. These principles were developed in 2018 in response to outcry against Google’s contract with the Department of Defense on Project Maven at the time. Google did not renew its contract and made commitments not to develop weapons, certain surveillance systems, or technologies that undermine human rights.
But as of yesterday, a WIRED article reported that the principles were replaced with vague language that would allow Google to pursue potentially sensitive use cases, including AI use in military weapons and surveillance. Google’s decision to go back on its established principles comes shortly after President Trump signed an executive order overturning the Biden executive order on safe AI development and use.
Google’s decision to walk back these principles in favor of imprecise commitments to “create AI that protects people, promotes global growth, and supports national security” poses serious risks in a moment when we need more safeguards on AI rather than fewer. Google should honor its previous commitments and prioritize preventing harm over profit.
There is extensive evidence that AI is already causing significant harm at an individual, community, and societal level as AI systems are increasingly employed by militaries in civilian bombings, airstrikes, and other warfare contexts. EPIC has consistently called for strong AI safeguards and regulatory protections, as well as for stronger oversight and regulation of AI systems. This including extensive research on law enforcement’s use of new surveillance technologies, AI procurement, generative AI technology, facial recognition, and predictive policing tools. In particular, EPIC has raised concerns over AI’s grave risks to privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties to the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board which engages in oversight over the intelligence community.

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