Google has initiated a round of job cuts in its news division, impacting dozens of employees, in a move that is raising concerns within the industry, according to a CNBC report.
The downsizing comes at a time when online platforms and publishers are grappling with misinformation challenges and as global events demand accurate and timely news coverage.
According to a spokesperson from the Alphabet Workers Union, approximately 40 to 45 workers in Google News have lost their jobs. However, the exact number of affected employees remains undisclosed by Google.
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A Google spokesperson confirmed the cuts and emphasized that there are still hundreds of employees dedicated to the news product. The spokesperson stated, “We’re deeply committed to a vibrant information ecosystem, and news is a part of that long-term investment. We’ve made some internal changes to streamline our organization. A small number of employees were impacted. We’re supporting everyone with a transition period, outplacement services, and severance as they look for new opportunities at Google and beyond.”
Google News is a prominent platform that offers links to articles from thousands of publishers and magazines. It is widely used by individuals who rely on Google Search to discover top-ranked stories on various topics.
The timing of these layoffs is critical, as it coincides with the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has resulted in thousands of casualties since October 7 and follows the 20-month-long Russian invasion of Ukraine. These global crises have led to a surge in the spread of misinformation, underscoring the importance of platforms like Google in delivering reliable and up-to-date news.
U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, representing Colorado, has already sought information from major tech companies, including Google, regarding their efforts to combat the spread of false and misleading content concerning the Israel-Hamas conflict. European Union industry chief Thierry Breton has also urged tech companies to take more stringent measures to combat disinformation, reminding Google and YouTube of the content moderation requirements under the EU’s Digital Services Act.
Despite these job cuts, Google’s spokesperson emphasized that these internal changes have no impact on their ongoing work to combat misinformation and maintain information quality in Google News.
In response to the rising challenges of misinformation, many tech companies have been bolstering their content moderation teams to address the issue more effectively.
Meanwhile, several countries, including Canada, are considering legislation that would compel tech platforms to compensate publishers for their content.
These job cuts in Google News follow a series of layoffs that have occurred across different parts of the company throughout the year. In January, Google announced its decision to cut 12,000 jobs, affecting approximately 6% of its full-time workforce. Just last month, hundreds of positions were eliminated from Google’s recruiting organization.
One staff engineer at Google News shared their thoughts on the layoffs through a post on LinkedIn, expressing their admiration for their now former colleagues: “These are some of the best and brightest people I’ve ever worked with. We’re definitely worse off without them.”
The future of Google News and the impact of these job cuts on the information ecosystem will continue to be closely monitored as the industry adapts to evolving challenges.
Nokia To Cut Jobs Also
Telecoms company Nokia on Thursday announced its plan to cut between 9,000 and 14,000 jobs by the end of 2026.The company recently reported a third-quarter net sales decline of 20 per cent year-on-year to 4.98 billion euros. Profit over the period plummeted by 69 per cent year-on-year to 133 million euros.
The company said the move is to address the challenging market environment.
“To address the market environment Nokia will reduce its cost base and increase operational efficiency while protecting its R&D capacity and commitment to technology leadership,” Nokia said in a statement.