Clearly they're trying to guide internal ethics. "Don't be evil." suggests that it is forbidden to be evil in all circumstances. How to read the new guideline: "Do the right thing, even if sometimes it requires evil." Some big event inside must have triggered this change in stance. Like a letter requesting they capitulate on some requirement to protect or give up user data, reveal whereabouts, key escrow, or something like that.

I guess what is confusing is how subjective "the right thing" can be. If an employee were to cite this new slogan and try to address a problem with it, is the right thing to capitulate or to defend. Who is to say really.

It almost seems like it is reworded to be more vague so higher ups can just wave their hands and say these aren't the droids you're looking for. But, are they waving their hands at employees protesting the mistreatment of customer data and privacy? Or, are they waving their hands at the powers that be who want unfettered access? I guess time will tell.