It doesn't seem that simple. It sounds as if the scope includes more than just products.
> The lawsuit alleges that Google’s leaks policy covers essentially all company information and prohibits reasonable discussion about company activities.
...
> One policy allegedly even prevents employees from writing a novel about working for a large Silicon Valley corporation — like, for instance, Dave Eggers’ dystopian novel, The Circle — without first getting final draft approval from Google.
Google is not bound by the First Amendment - only the federal, state and local governments are (and institutions they run, such as state universities).
> If you’re considering sharing confidential information to a reporter—or to anyone externally—for the love of all that’s Googley, please reconsider! Not only could it cost you your job, but it also betrays the values that makes us a community.
So the question is-- what constitutes "confidential" at Google?
Let's say a bad apple-- coworker or boss-- is abusing their power in a way that affects a particular class of employees, and the employee has exhausted the proper internal channels without success/resolution.
Is that information "confidential" according to the typical contract Google employees sign?
To essentially repeat the question: what happens if the employee cannot resolve a problem that affects a class of employees using this internal mailing list? Is the employee's account of such an abuse of power considered "confidential" according to the terms of their contract?
I'd really like to hear an answer from a current or former Google employee, and preferably a yes/no answer.
> The lawsuit alleges that Google’s leaks policy covers essentially all company information and prohibits reasonable discussion about company activities.
...
> One policy allegedly even prevents employees from writing a novel about working for a large Silicon Valley corporation — like, for instance, Dave Eggers’ dystopian novel, The Circle — without first getting final draft approval from Google.
John Doe v. Google, Inc [1].
[1] https://www.scribd.com/document/334736972/John-Doe-vs-Google...