>> Working on search or data classification technology that has applications to obsoleting workers and putting them out of a job = not evil?

Possibly, if that technology also allows us to, says, cure cancer?

Hyperbole aside, putting workers out of jobs are apple-and-watermelon different than "helping" the military industry (spying or otherwise).

And I'm fairly sure that the complaint of too much focus on the ads industry isn't particularly rare either.