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Comment by cmilton | Hacker News Reader

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cmilton·

I believe the data is being collected to help prevent discrimination based on any of those characteristics.

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I get that, but I am wondering if there is a legal right to privacy here.

Besides , is it anyone’s business as to what I identify as ? Is it ethical to force me to reveal this ?

Reporting is entirely voluntary, so there are no concerns around that as far as the original collections go. No one is forced to report anything.

The person leaking it is acting unethically though. It has no whistleblower value of any kind, and betrays those who filled it out thinking it would be internal only.

Company wide things were being leaked at G within hours of announcement nearly a decade ago. :( Anyone who didn’t expect it just really wasn’t paying attention. Not that it excuses it, but c’mon.

Versions of this spreadsheet have existed for almost ten years maybe longer. Leaking it is a relatively new phenomenon.

I remember that it got leaked literally within months of creation, hah. Well over 7 years ago now?

Maybe not the exact same spreadsheet, but the first one. It would be surprising if it was different though.

Most forms I have seen asking for this information now include the option to not disclose it. “Prefer not to answer”

This is run entirely by employees with no company involvement.

The second sentence of the article says "voluntarily submitted". Nobody was forced to reveal anything.

I am questioning how anyone can decision anything based off any data regarding this topic accurately , including governments or courts. Seems like it is all good faith but no way to validate the results.

The company itself says it keeps thorough and detailed data about all this. So presumably the courts and government would use that version.

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