Google DeepMind researchers reportedly bound by perpetual non-disparagement clauses

Google DeepMind has been reported to include permanently binding non-disparagement clauses in employment contracts, prohibiting researchers from publicly criticizing the company for life. AI governance researcher Séamus Ó hÉigeartaigh publicly confirmed this, saying he had corroborating accounts from multiple informed sources; former Google employee BlackHC posted the UK Confidentiality and Proprietary Information Agreement he signed before joining in 2024 as evidence. The revelation has sparked widespread concern about AI labs suppressing employee voices on safety and other issues.

Confirmed

• AI governance researcher S. Ó hÉigeartaigh confirmed that Google DeepMind researchers are bound by permanent non-disparagement clauses, and noted that this has finally come to light.
• Former employee BlackHC posted the Confidentiality and Proprietary Information Agreement he signed before joining Google (UK) in 2024, pointing out that its non-disparagement clause is extremely broad and permanent.
• BlackHC noted that the UK contract's non-disparagement clause lacks the statutory exemptions for protected disclosures, arguing this would chill employees from speaking up about serious issues; he also clarified that his signing of the contract does not constitute legal advice.
• DeepMind researcher Victoria Krakovna disclosed the specific terms: for 12 months after leaving, employees may not do or say anything that could cause others to withdraw or cease business with Google and its affiliates.
• Krakovna said her 2016 contract contained no "permanent clause," suggesting it was introduced around the time of the DeepMind–Google Brain merger in early 2023.
• Ó hÉigeartaigh thanked Krakovna for the correction and confirmed that newer DeepMind contracts do include the "permanent clause."

Unconfirmed

• Rumors say new contracts are removing the permanent clause; Krakovna and Ó hÉigeartaigh's posts mentioned this but no official documentation backs it. Ó hÉigeartaigh welcomed the possible removal.
• Some in the discussion inferred that veteran employees (those who joined in the mid-2010s) may not be bound by the clause; this also remains unconfirmed.

Why it matters

• Non-disparagement clauses without whistleblower exemptions may suppress employees from speaking out publicly on serious issues like AI safety, autonomous weapons, and surveillance, creating a chilling effect.
• Commentators have drawn comparisons to OpenAI's past use of similar clauses: Robert Wiblin and others pointed out that when OpenAI did this, public opinion was shocked, and with Google now doing the same, commentators like Alexander McCoy stated bluntly that companies should not make lifetime bans on criticism a condition of employment.
• Coming after the DeepMind–Google Brain merger, the clause's timing (introduced around 2023) reflects a trend of tightening control over employee speech as major AI labs rapidly consolidate.

2026-10-22 ~ 2026-10-23 · 10 related posts

Full story(2 episodes)→

• Episode 1: Google DeepMind researchers reportedly bound by perpetual non-disparagement clauses(2026-10-22, 10 posts)
• Episode 2: Ex-Googlers say they're barred for life from criticizing Google(2026-10-23, 2 posts)

• Follow-up: Google UK's non-disparagement clause lacks protected-disclosure exemptions — BlackHC · 2026-10-22
• Google DeepMind researchers reportedly bound by perpetual non-disparagement clauses — zetalyrae · 2026-10-22
• [source] DeepMind vet says 'perpetual clause' only appeared after 2023 merger, may be removed — vkrakovna · 2026-10-22
• DeepMind perpetual clause confirmed in newer contracts, removal rumored — S_OhEigeartaigh · 2026-10-22
• [source] DeepMind speech-restriction clause may date to GDM merger, upsetting old guard over weapons principles — S_OhEigeartaigh · 2026-10-22
• Google faces backlash over lifetime contracts barring employees from criticizing the company — GarrisonLovely · 2026-10-23
• [source] Ex-Googler shares contract: Google UK non-disparagement clause bars criticism forever — PMinervini · 2026-10-23

3 near-duplicate retellings: BlackHC · vkrakovna · zetalyrae