How Google spent 15 years creating a culture of concealment

Facing antitrust scrutiny in 2008, Google initiated a campaign to limit the paper trail of internal communications. The company encouraged employees to minimize written speculation, automatically delete instant messages, and liberally apply attorney-client privilege, even on routine communications. Judges in recent antitrust trials have criticized these practices, alleging that Google fostered a culture of evidence suppression. Facing antitrust scrutiny in 2008, Google initiated a campaign to limit the paper trail of internal communications. The company encouraged employees to minimize written speculation, automatically delete instant messages, and liberally apply attorney-client privilege, even on routine communications. Judges in recent antitrust trials have criticized these practices, alleging that Google fostered a culture of evidence suppression.  Economic Times