Google's online calendar has sparked controversy after it quietly removed default references for several key holidays and cultural events, leaving many users confused and upset. Holiday markers such as Pride Month and Black History Month, along with other significant observances, have disappeared from both the desktop and mobile applications.
The removals gathered widespread attention last week, particularly as events related to these holidays are approaching. Yet, according to Google, these changes were implemented midway through last year. The California-based tech giant clarified via statement to The Associated Press, saying, "Maintaining hundreds of moments manually and consistently globally wasn't scalable or sustainable." Since mid-2024, Google has opted to show only public holidays and national observances sourced from timeanddate.com, leaving users free to manually add significant moments themselves.
While Google did not provide specifics on all cultural events it previously included, social media users and product experts have pointed out several missing observances. Prominent among these are the first days of both Pride and Black History Months, as well as other observances such as Indigenous Peoples Month and Hispanic Heritage Month, alongside Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Notably, Google has been facing various challenges and scrutiny over its changes, particularly as they came alongside recent alterations to Google Maps, where the Gulf of Mexico has seen its name changed to the Gulf of America due to presidential directives. "We have a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources," said Google, highlighting its adaptive approach to conflicting directives.
Reactions from the public have varied, with some accusing Google of being politically motivated or insensitive about these changes. The company has reiterated, "This is not ideological; it’s about scaling issues." Critics, particularly within the tech community, have raised eyebrows at these shifts during periods of heightened scrutiny over corporate diversity and inclusion practices.
According to Google's spokesperson, the calendar team had initially integrated cultural moments from around the globe manually. Over time, they began receiving feedback highlighting missing events and observances, leading to the mentioned adjustments. The representative stated, "For over a decade, we've worked with timeanddate.com to show public holidays and national observances in Google Calendar." By returning to just those holidays and observances, Google felt it could streamline its offerings without diluting the user experience.
To counterbalance the removal of these cultural events from the calendar, Google indicated its commitment to promoting diverse cultural observances through various channels, asserting its efforts to highlight events such as Black History Month and Lunar New Year.
Users can still customize their calendars through timeanddate.com, which provides several options for what holidays to include, ranging from public holidays alone to calendars featuring certain observances as well.
Despite these options, many users lament the ease of having those significant dates automatically included, ensuring reminders without extra effort. Google has urged users to take advantage of the manual addition process, even as reactions remain mixed.
With the continuing evolution of cultural awareness across platforms, the debate around these Google Calendar changes is likely to persist. Whether framed as logistical adjustments or viewed through the lens of political maneuvering, the impact on users remains undeniable.