A California judge ruled this week that the confidentiality agreements Google requires its employees to sign are too broad and break the state’s labor laws, a decision that could make it easier for workers at famously secret Big Tech firms to speak openly about their companies.

A Google employee identified as John Doe argued that the broad nondisclosure agreement the company asked him to sign barred him from speaking about his job to other potential employers, amounting to a non-compete clause, which are illegal in California. In a Thursday ruling in California Superior Court, a judge agreed with the employee, while declining to make a judgment on other allegations that Google’s agreements blocked whistleblowing and sharing information about wages with other workers.

The ruling marks the latest victory for labor advocates who have sought to force Big Tech companies to relax the stringent confidentiality policies that compel employees to stay quiet about every aspect of their jobs, even after they quit. In recent years, new legislation in California has taken aim at confidentiality agreements that block victims of sexual harassment and discrimination from speaking out. The decision isn’t final and could still be appealed by Google.

“It’s great language. It’s a great argument. It’s something I would try to use in a similar case,” said Ramsey Hanafi, a partner with QH Law in San Francisco.

If Google doesn’t appeal, or loses the appeal, it could have a real impact on how much...

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