> A computing professional has an additional obligation to report any signs of system risks that might result in harm. If leaders do not act to curtail or mitigate such risks, it may be necessary to "blow the whistle" to reduce potential harm. However, capricious or misguided reporting of risks can itself be harmful. Before reporting risks, a computing professional should carefully assess relevant aspects of the situation.

The irony is that the previous leak (which detailed a harmful IT system) was the cause of this very meeting (Googlers wanted to know more about the project they read about on HackerNews/The Intercept). Without that earlier leak, upper management wouldn't be forced to organize this open meeting. Though, I can fully understand getting angry and wanting to signal support.

What this new leak made clear is that the supposed culture of openness at Google is a farce: "Brin reportedly denied having knowledge of the program until after news leaked and what Brin described as "this kerfuffle" erupted." So even one of the CEO's was left in the dark.

Otherwise the discussion is private and/or not transparent. (Or at least not intended to be transparent.) Private discussions are usually not be transparent, otherwise the public court will judge.

If Google wants to discuss sensitive issues at an "all hands meeting" then it better be prepared for leaks, otherwise they should stick to smoke filled rooms.

> then it better be prepared for leaks

Leaking something that was brought up questioned and resolved in a negative way is one thing. In contrast this was just live tweeting everything said.

Bringing up complicated topics and having an honest discussion is hard when the whole of the internet is your judge.

Had they not gotten so brazen as to put up in real time what was being said in the meeting, I'm sure the reaction would have been different. Of course, the powers to be at Google took the chance to turn sympathy towards themselves and are going to use it as an excuse from now on to be a tad less candid in these meetings.

Leaks can break a company.