Eric Schmidt

Michelle Ritter, Schmidt's former partner and business associate, accused him in several proceedings of sexual assault, monitoring her communications and taking control of their company, Steel Perlot. Some claims were referred to arbitration.

State of the evidence

Allegations

Attribution

Accused

Investigations documented investment links between structures associated with Schmidt and Chinese technology companies while he played a significant role in US policy concerning technological competition with China and warned about the strategic risks of Chinese AI.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Schmidt chaired the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence while holding substantial investments in companies in the sector. Senator Elizabeth Warren subsequently requested information about possible conflicts, notably where companies linked to his investments might benefit from federal policies or contracts.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility

Schmidt Futures and organisations close to Schmidt funded or supported personnel and projects linked to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Whistleblowers and lawmakers raised concerns about excessive private influence over an administration responsible for technology policy.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Schmidt chaired the Pentagon's Defense Innovation Board while remaining a major figure and investor in the technology ecosystem. Press investigations raised questions about the proximity between his private interests, the technologies recommended and the access gained within the Department of Defense.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Close aide

In a shareholder derivative action concerning Alphabet's handling of sexual harassment cases, shareholders also made allegations about Schmidt's personal conduct, including a relationship with an employee who reportedly subsequently worked as a consultant. The case formed part of broader criticism of the group's governance culture.

Attribution

Direct responsibility

After Open Markets, a programme at New America, welcomed a major European antitrust penalty against Google, Schmidt, then Alphabet executive chairman and a major funder of the think tank, expressed his displeasure. The programme was subsequently removed, prompting allegations that a major donor had influenced independent research.

State of the evidence

Disputed

Attribution

Directly implicated

While Schmidt led Google, the company participated in agreements with several technology firms limiting direct recruitment approaches to employees. The Department of Justice brought a civil antitrust action and the companies agreed to end the practices; an employee class action subsequently resulted in a $415 million settlement.

State of the evidence

Settlement

Attribution

Institutional responsibility

As Google faced criticism in the United Kingdom and elsewhere for paying relatively little tax compared with its activity, Schmidt defended the group's tax structures and said he was proud of how the company handled its obligations within the law.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility

Google acknowledged that its Street View vehicles had captured fragments of data from unencrypted Wi-Fi networks. As CEO, Schmidt had to respond to a worldwide privacy crisis as several regulators opened investigations.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Institutional responsibility

Schmidt left Apple's board as Google and Apple became more direct competitors and the Federal Trade Commission examined the risks associated with directors serving simultaneously on boards of competing companies.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility

Asked about concerns over data held by Google, Schmidt replied in substance that if someone really did not want information to become known, perhaps they should avoid the activity concerned. The formulation was widely criticised as downplaying privacy.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

Google launched Google.cn, agreeing to filter certain search results in accordance with Chinese requirements. Schmidt defended the decision, explaining that providing a censored service was preferable to providing no service at all, sparking international controversy over freedom of expression and self-censorship.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility