Even if the data was accurate and sourced from Google itself (it isn't necessarily, and it's self reported), and was normalized (the Business Insider article did not normalize for level, and even if it did, could not have normalized for total industry experience which influences Google's initial offer and therefore the gap as exacerbated by annual raises and promotions) you still wouldn't be able to come to the conclusion, necessarily that Black employees earning less is some sort of conspiracy.
There are for better or worse many factors at play -
1. Initial offers are flexible depending on offers received and your ability to negotiate potentially leveraging them.
2. Compensation reported (or otherwise) necessarily is related to the stock price and growth. Propensity for stock to be issued is also related to how well the company is doing and retention. Notably right now hiring is slowed at Google which might lead to lower wages at certain levels.
3. Demographic differences (Google has different pay bands for different areas, and certain demographics are more likely to live in certain areas).
This kind of un-normalized leak is actually horrible for equity because it disincentives hiring junior Black employees!
If all you're comparing is raw salary average, companies will focus on poaching the same small bucket of super-senior Black engineers rather than the top-of-funnel interns and juniors who would most benefit (because hiring juniors lowers the salary average).
There are for better or worse many factors at play -
1. Initial offers are flexible depending on offers received and your ability to negotiate potentially leveraging them.
2. Compensation reported (or otherwise) necessarily is related to the stock price and growth. Propensity for stock to be issued is also related to how well the company is doing and retention. Notably right now hiring is slowed at Google which might lead to lower wages at certain levels.
3. Demographic differences (Google has different pay bands for different areas, and certain demographics are more likely to live in certain areas).