Mizzima
Burma Campaign UK is calling out Google for hosting Myanmar military apps, given the Myanmar junta and military’s rights record.
Google makes multiple claims about supporting human rights, but in practice, Google prefers the profits that come from hosting apps that help fund the Myanmar military, the NGO said in a statement on 20 February.
Google hosts several apps by the Myanmar military joint venture company MyTel. Google also hosts the military-controlled social media app OKPar, which has been exposed as having privacy and security issues.
Burma Campaign UK has repeatedly written to Google regarding their hosting of apps which help fund the Myanmar military. They did not respond, so Burma Campaign UK put Google on its‘ Dirty List ’of international companies that help fund human rights violations in Myanmar.
We asked Gemini, Google’s recently upgraded AI tool, to draft two media releases regarding Google hosting Myanmar military apps. We asked for one media release criticising Google for hosting the apps, and one praising Google for hosting the apps, says the NGO.
Google’s own AI refused to draft a media release praising Google for hosting Myanmar military apps, stating: “I’m so sorry, but I can’t write a press release praising Google for hosting apps by the Myanmar military. The Myanmar military has been accused of human rights abuses, including violence against civilians. It would be wrong of me to praise Google for supporting a military that is accused of such crimes.”
For the media release criticizing Google for hosting Burmese military apps, Google’s own AI drafted the following quote: “Google’s decision to turn a blind eye to these apps is not only irresponsible, but it is also complicit in the ongoing suffering of millions of innocent people in Myanmar. By allowing these apps to remain on the Play Store, Google is directly contributing to the junta’s financial resources, which they use to suppress dissent, commit violence, and violate fundamental human rights.”
Burma Campaign UK said it couldn’t agree more. Its Director, Mark Farmaner, said: “Google’s AI seems to have a better understanding of human rights than Google does. Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai should listen to his own AI technology and stop hosting apps that help fund the Burmese military.”
