Google’s ‘inclusive’ writing tool called ‘creepy and intrusive’

Google’s new tool for suggesting “inclusive” terms when you’re writing has angered some users for being clumsy, creepy and intrusive.

The company has added a pop-up message to Google Docs when you write a word that “may not be inclusive to all readers”, and gives alternatives.

The intention is to prompt people to avoid genderspecific words like ‘policeman’ and ‘fireman’, but it has been criticised for going too far.

For example, typing ‘housewife’ brings up the suggestion ‘stay-at-home spouse’, while ‘property owner’ or ‘proprietor’ is offered as an alternative to ‘landlord’ (pictured). The word ‘motherboard’ is also flagged up.

Silkie Carlo, of privacy campaign group Big Brother Watch, said that rather than being helpful the warnings are

“deeply intrusive”. She added that “this speech-policing is profoundly clumsy, creepy and wrong, often reinforcing bias”.

Lazar Radic, a senior scholar in economic policy at the International Centre for Law and Economics, told the Sunday Telegraph: “Not only is this incredibly conceited and patronising – it can also serve to stifle individuality, self-expression, experimentation”.

Google said that its technology “is always improving, and we don’t yet (and may never) have a complete solution to identifying and mitigating all unwanted word associations and biases”.

The company has previously provided advice on using more inclusive language, suggesting “baffling” instead of “crazy”, “person-hours” instead of “man-hours” and “older adults” instead of “the elderly”.

The feature is being rolled out to people using the paid-for business version Google Docs. It’s not known whether it will be added to the free edition.

Do you find these ‘inclusive’ suggestions creepy or helpful? Let us know: letters@computeractive. co.uk