‘Management has lost its moral compass': Google director resigns over company's military ties

René Mayrhofer, who served as Google's director for Android platform security, has stepped down in protest against the company's recent agreement with the US Department of Defense. In a farewell message shared with employees, Mayrhofer expressed that his resignation was "unavoidable" following Google’s decision to permit the Pentagon to utilize its artificial intelligence models for classified operations. In his note, titled "Google Management Has Lost Its Moral Compass," he criticized the company's shift away from its commitment to carbon neutrality, attributing this change to the energy demands of AI models. Mayrhofer pointed out, "The current Google management is now entering into agreements with the US Ministry of War, where the government's actions have often contradicted international laws." Reflecting on his tenure, Mayrhofer noted that he joined Google in 2017, a time he described as more transparent. He lamented the transformation in the company's values, particularly regarding its environmental objectives and ethical technology development. He recalled that Google's AI principles established in 2018 explicitly stated a refusal to use AI for weaponry or surveillance, but these restrictions were reportedly lifted in updated guidelines in February 2025. Mayrhofer highlighted a lack of internal debate or communication surrounding the Google-Pentagon deal, asserting that decisions are increasingly centralized among top management. He emphasized his personal stance against military engagements, stating, "I am a pacifist and have long decided that I will not work for militaries involved in offensive warfare. Proactively harming people is not something I can or will be involved with." Another notable figure, Andreas Kirsch, a research scientist at Google DeepMind, has reportedly left for similar reasons. Mayrhofer will remain at Google until August 31, 2026, to facilitate the transition of his projects, after which he plans to focus on areas such as privacy, encryption, digital identity, and operating system security.