Over 200 Google employees have joined Amnesty International and called on the company to cancel Project Dragonfly, its secret search engine for China, in a Medium post. "So far, our leadership’s response has been unsatisfactory," says the post, explaining that they are among the thousands of employees who have spoken up. They add that other international human rights organizations have also raised alarm over human rights concerns, and called on Google to cancel the project. The letter was originally signed by 12 Google employees, who disclosed their names and roles in the company. Within hours, the number increased to around 248 Google employees, along with their names and roles. The letter points out that the employees' objection to Dragonfly is not about China, but 'the technology which aids the powerful in oppressing the vulnerable.' "The Chinese government certainly isn’t alone in its readiness to stifle freedom of expression, and to use surveillance to repress dissent," the letter reads. "Dragonfly in China would establish a dangerous precedent at a volatile political moment, one that would make it harder for Google to deny other countries similar concessions," it added. The Google employees object for several reasons: Dragonfly would establish a precedent, which would make it harder for Google to deny other countries similar concessions The project would make Google complicit in oppression and human rights abuse as Chinese law requires that the companies provide access to user data. The is in light of the Chinese government's expanding surveillance and population control, with the backing…
