Google has quietly taken away events like Women’s History Month, Black History Month, and LGBTQ+ holidays from its Calendar app, leading to widespread discussion. The company says this is due to practical reasons, but it happens as Google changes its policies on diversity, raising questions about political influence.
Google’s Rationale: Practicality or Politics?
For many years, Google Calendar showed cultural events along with regular holidays. However, in 2024, users noticed these events were missing. Google confirmed they were removed, stating it was “not practical” to keep adding many cultural events for different countries.
A Google spokesperson explained that they used to manually add these events, but it became too difficult to do this for all countries consistently. So, they decided to only show official public holidays from a reliable source.
Critics argue this decision matches a trend of companies moving away from diversity programs, especially with political changes in the U.S.
Political Influence on Tech Companies
Google’s decision comes as many companies, particularly in Silicon Valley, are changing their diversity policies due to political and legal pressure. The possibility of Donald Trump returning to the White House has led companies like Google to reconsider their diversity efforts.
In 2024, Google’s parent company, Alphabet, reduced its diversity programs. This included stopping hiring targets for certain groups and reviewing programs to comply with new government rules.
Alphabet’s Chief People Officer said they are making these changes because they are a federal contractor and must follow new court decisions and government orders.
This shows the tension between companies’ social goals and government rules. During Trump’s previous term, federal contractors had restrictions on diversity programs, and this could happen again.
The Decline of Diversity Efforts in Tech
Google’s move is part of a larger trend in the tech industry. Many companies that once strongly supported diversity are now reducing their efforts. This is due to legal challenges, political pressure, and financial reasons.
In 2023, lawsuits challenged race-based hiring, causing many companies to rethink their diversity programs. Also, economic problems have led companies to cut costs, often affecting diversity programs.
Google says its Calendar change was practical, but the timing suggests a move away from recognizing social justice movements.
Google’s decision has been criticized by groups and users who believe removing these events reduces the visibility of marginalized communities. Many people used Google Calendar to remember important cultural events, and its removal is seen as a step backward.
Social media is full of reactions, with many questioning Google’s commitment to inclusivity. Critics say that while users can add events manually, removing them by default suggests they are not universally important.
Organizations supporting women, LGBTQ+ rights, and racial justice have expressed concerns, saying that digital recognition is important for public awareness.
Google also recently renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” on its U.S. maps, following an order by Trump. This change has been criticized as nationalistic.
While Google has not commented on this, it adds to the idea that the company is making changes to align with potential political shifts.
Google and Diversity: What’s Next?
With Google reducing its public recognition of cultural events and changing its diversity policies, the future of diversity in tech is uncertain. If Trump returns to office, more diversity programs may be cut, especially in companies with federal contracts.
However, employee and advocacy group pressure could change Google’s approach. The company has faced internal criticism before, and enough pressure could lead to changes in its Calendar policy.
For now, users must manually add these events, which many feel should not be necessary.
Google’s removal of cultural events from its Calendar has caused controversy. While the company claims it was practical, the timing suggests a change in priorities due to political shifts.
As diversity programs face scrutiny, the role of tech companies in promoting social awareness is being questioned. Whether this change is temporary or long-term remains to be seen, but digital platforms are becoming a battleground for diversity and political influence in corporate America.
