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Google to require vaccinations as Silicon Valley rethinks return-to-office policies

Apple, Facebook, Twitter and Netflix are also updating their COVID-19 protocols.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Wednesday told employees the company will require vaccinations for employees working on the company’s campuses, a move that comes as the highly contagious delta variant of the COVID-19 virus spreads across the world. The policy will begin in the US and expand to other regions over the next few months.

Pichai also delayed the company’s mandatory return to office to Oct. 18, pushing back the date from an earlier goal of September.

«Getting vaccinated is one of the most important ways to keep ourselves and our communities healthy in the months ahead,» Pichai wrote in an email to employees. «I know that many of you continue to deal with very challenging circumstances related to the pandemic.»

Pichai said the policy will be implemented according to local conditions, and he would share guidance and exceptions for people who can’t get vaccinated due to medical or other protected reasons.

The announcement comes as regions around the world have seen coronavirus cases surge due to the delta variant. In California, Google’s home state, some counties have mandated masks again for people gathering indoors.

Google isn’t alone in re-evaluating its return-to-work protocols because of the latest wave of the pandemic. Apple said last week that it would also postpone its date for returning to the office by a month. More than half of Apple’s stores will require customers and employees to wear masks, regardless of vaccination status, starting on Wednesday, according to Bloomberg.

Facebook also said on Wednesday that it would require workers on its US campuses be vaccinated. Netflix will require vaccinations for casts of its US productions, Deadline reported. Twitter said it’s closing the company’s opened offices in New York and San Francisco and pausing future office re-openings. The company said that the office closures are temporary but they don’t have a new timeline for reopening. «We’re continuing to closely monitor local conditions and make necessary changes that prioritize the health and safety of our Tweeps,» a Twitter spokesperson said in a statement.

Uber on Thursday also pushed its global return to office date back to Oct. 25, a delay from its original goal of September. In an internal note to employees, which an Uber representative shared with CNET, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi added that «local circumstances will continue to dictate when it makes sense to bring employees back in a given city,» and that some offices will remain open for employees to come into voluntarily, if local health guidelines allow. Uber will also require employees be fully vaccinated to come into the office, beginning in the US before expanding to other countries. In addition, all Uber employees around the world must now wear masks if they’re in the office.

Google’s return-to-office policies have caused major tension among the tech giant’s employees, who have complained the rules are applied unevenly. Earlier this month, CNET reported that Urs Hölzle, one of Google’s most senior and longest tenured executives, told employees he’d be working remotely from New Zealand. The announcement rankled lower-level workers who called the relocation «hypocritical» because they said he had in the past been unsupportive or remote work.

CNET’s Queenie Wong and Abrar Al-Heeti contributed to this report.

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Technologies

Your iPhone’s Maps App Could Get Ads With iOS 26.5

The upcoming iOS update could also bring end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging to your device.

Apple released the second public beta of iOS 26.5 on Tuesday, about three weeks after the company released the massive iOS 26.4 update, which included new emoji, video podcasts and more. The iOS 26.5 beta brings a few smaller — but significant — changes to the iPhones of developers and beta testers, including a screen in Maps heralding ads in the app and end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging.

Because this is a beta, I recommend downloading it only on something other than your primary device. This isn’t the final version of iOS 26.5, so the update might be buggy and battery life may be shortened, so it’s best to keep those troubles on a secondary device.

Also, since this isn’t the final version of iOS 26.5, Apple could add more features to the update before it arrives on your iPhone.

Here are some features developers and beta testers can try now, and what could land on your iPhone when Apple releases iOS 26.5.

Ads could arrive in Maps soon

If you open your Maps app after downloading the iOS 26.5 beta, you’ll see a new splash screen that announces the arrival of ads in the app. 

«Maps may show local ads based on your approximate location, current search terms, or view of the map while you search,» Apple says. «For your privacy, advertising information is not linked to your Apple Account.»

Apple announced Apple Business in March, allowing companies to connect with customers via some of Apple’s first-party apps, such as Mail and Wallet. Apple Business also lets companies place local ads in Maps. So you could start seeing ads in Maps for the coffee shop down the street from your home.

Suggested Places in Maps

The iOS 26.5 beta also brings a new section called Suggested Places to your Maps app. Once in the app, tap your Search bar like you’re going to look up a nearby cafe or restaurant, and the section Suggested Places will appear below Recents.

End-to-end encrypted RCS messaging returns

The iOS 26.5 beta brings back an option to enable end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging on your device. When Apple brought RCS messaging to iPhones with iOS 18, one feature the messaging protocol was missing was end-to-end encryption, and iOS 26.5 could finally bring this privacy protection to your iPhone.

To find this setting, go to Settings > Apps > Messages > RCS Messaging and tap the slider next to End-to-End Encryption (Beta). 

Apple writes in the feature’s description that it’s still in beta, and it works only on certain carriers and devices. Apple also writes that these encrypted messages will be labeled as such, so you should know when your messages do and don’t have this level of protection.

Apple included end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging in beta versions of iOS 26.4, but the tech giant didn’t include the feature in the final release.

Those are a few of the new features developers and public beta testers can try now with the second public beta of iOS 26.5. There will likely be more betas before the OS is released to the public, so there’s plenty of time for Apple to change these features and add others. Apple has not said when it will release iOS 26.5 to the general public.

For more iOS news, here’s everything you should know about iOS 26.4 and iOS 26.3. You can also check out our iOS 26 cheat sheet.

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Technologies

Amazon Leo Boosts Its Race With Starlink, With a Deal to Connect iPhones

Amazon has acquired satellite service provider Globalstar in its plan to provide connectivity services in 2028.

Amazon keeps reaching for the skies, literally. The commerce giant is acquiring satellite service provider Globalstar to enhance Leo — its own satellite operation — when it eventually provides direct-to-device service.

In the deal, reportedly valued at $11.6 billion, Amazon will get Globalstar’s satellite operations, infrastructure and assets. Globalstar, based in Louisiana, has 24 satellites and plans to expand to 32 later this year, according to its website. The company provides «critical and emergency communications to customers around the world,» Tuesday’s announcement said.

The transaction also involves Apple. Globalstar provides emergency satellite connectivity for iPhones from the iPhone 14 and up, as well as the Apple Watch Ultra 3, for texting emergency services, requesting roadside assistance, sharing locations and messaging friends and families during natural disasters. Apple bought a 20% stake in Globalstar in November 2024.

Amazon said in Tuesday’s announcement that Leo would «power satellite services for iPhone and Apple Watch, including Emergency SOS via satellite.»

Amazon Leo — the «Leo» stands for «low Earth orbit,» which is where its satellites are positioned in space — is trying to become a major competitor to Starlink, the global satellite service leader owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Starlink has more than 10,000 satellites in orbit, providing connectivity to smartphones, devices, vehicles and appliances as an alternative to cellphone towers.

Formerly known as Project Kuiper, Leo aims to start providing satellite connectivity services in early 2028, but there have been hiccups. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy told shareholders last week that Leo would not begin providing Wi-Fi service to governments, airlines and other businesses until mid-2026. One of the issues is that Amazon must have 1,600 satellites in orbit by July, per a Federal Communications Commission deadline, but it currently has only 250.

Amazon asked the FCC for an extension on the mandate, but the agency has not ruled yet.

Delta Air Lines and JetBlue have deals with Amazon to use Leo for in-flight connectivity for passengers in the future.

Panos Panay, senior vice president of Devices & Services at Amazon, said Tuesday’s deal with Globalstar will help deliver internet to «billions of customers» who are «beyond the reach of existing networks.»

Amazon said that Leo, whenever it does begin delivering satellite service, «will offer substantially higher spectrum use and efficiency than legacy direct-to-cell systems.»

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Technologies

It’s Game On With This Xbox Core Controller at an Impressive 42% Off

Normally $65, you can get it for under $40 while supplies last at Woot.

For a limited time, you can add a new controller to your gaming necessities for a nice, low price. Normally $65, the Xbox Core controller is now 42% off. That means you’ll pay a more reasonable $38. If you’re interested, you should hurry. Quantities are currently low at Woot, and the black color option is already sold out. Don’t miss your chance to take your gaming to the next level at a nice discount.

This Xbox controller features an ergonomic design. It has sculpted surfaces that make long gaming sessions more comfortable. It also has a hybrid directional pad and textured grips on the triggers and bumpers, giving you better control and precision no matter what game you’re playing. 

This is a wireless controller, either through Bluetooth or Xbox Wireless. If you prefer, you can plug it in with USB-C for a lag-free wired connection. It works easily across Xbox consoles, Windows PCs and mobile devices. Through the Xbox app, you can even customize things like button mapping. This is truly an all-around solid controller.

Not an Xbox fan? Take a look at the best Nintendo Switch deals you can shop right now.

CHEAP GAMING LAPTOP DEALS OF THE WEEK

Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article.

Why this deal matters

This is a pretty impressive discount of $27 on an Xbox controller, saving you almost 50% off the regular price. Woot claims you have 10 more days to pick up this deal but we disagree. Quantities are already limited, and once it’s sold out, it won’t be back. The black color option is sold out and the white probably isn’t too far behind. 

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