By Pascal Oparada
Andy Rubin, nicknamed father of Android, because he created the world famous operating system, has been accused of sexual misconduct and was covered up by Google, owners of the operating system, a New York Times investigation revealed.
According to the newspaper, Rubin had an extramarital affair with an employee at Google who accused him of coercing her to performing an oral sex in a hotel in 2013. The lid was lifted by two executives who have knowledge of the matter.
New York Times investigation revealed that when the matter came to light, Google investigated and found Rubin culpable and he was asked to resign and given a $90 million severance pay.
Google refused to make the matter public but instead presented the case like Rubin left on his own volition.
“I want to wish Andy all the best with what’s next,” Larry Page, Google’s chief executive then, said in a public statement. “With Android he created something truly remarkable — with a billion-plus happy users.”
Rubin was one of three chief executives protected by Google for sexual molestation in the past decade, according to New York Times.
In two instances, Google ousted senior executives, but softened the blow by paying them millions of dollars as they departed, even though it had no legal obligation to do so. In a third, the executive remained in a highly compensated post at the company. Each time Google stayed silent about the accusations against the men.
The newspaper obtained corporate and court documents and spoke to more than three dozen people of current and former employees of Google who have knowledge of the matter. Most asked to remain anonymous for fear of victimization and retribution.
Rubin’s case stood out because he was paid handsomely for a misconduct which led to his exit, an ex-employee said.
Sam Singer, a spokesman for Rubin, disputed that the technologist had been told of any misconduct at Google and said he left the company of his own accord. Singer said that Rubin did not engage in misconduct and that “any relationship that Rubin had while at Google was consensual and did not involve any person who reported directly to him.”
