Google has reportedly hired private security guards to protect their employees while waiting for their ride at bus stops in San Francisco.
In the past couple of days, after Google buses were bashed by protesters, two men dressed in jeans and black hoods were seen keenly eyeing passengers boarding the Gbus at one of its stops in San Francisco's Mission District.
Reuters observed these two guys. Though they do not really stick out from the rest of the waiting passengers, the curly earpiece they were wearing was catchy. They were also seen writing something on a yellow stick-it pad. They also seemed alerted when the Google bus arrived and in one instance, they were seen waving to the driver. The gesture strengthened suspicions that they may be working for Google.
When asked if they were security personnel, one of them asked the reporter, "Can I see your badge?" - probably referring to the identification badges Google staffs use to ride the bus and entering the company premises. The other one denied the allegation, but declined to provide any information about his identity and employer.
One Google staff who rides the Gbus said he does not remember seeing any type of monitoring at the bus stops in the past.
The protesters, which are mainly long-time residents in the area, blame Google and other Internet companies for the increase in city rents.
Other protests, on the other hand, have been nonviolent but unruly.
The tension is a no secret for Internet companies and made measures to keep their staffs safe and sound.
At one point, the Mountain View, Calif.-based company even experimented with a chartered boat that can ship its staffs living in San Francisco to its headquarters.
Ron Roth, executive director of private security firm Corporate Security Service Inc said he has no idea security firm works with the Internet giant.
"If they are having security at the bus stops it's probably only eyes and ears, and to act as liaison to the police, and probably not to take any action," Roth said to Reuters.
