It’s been reported that during an informal chat with Apple employees, Steve Jobs described Google’s don’t-be-evil mantra as “bullshit” or ” a load of crap”.    While the tech press seems predictably focused on the distinction between the two characterizations, we asked ourselves whether Jobs in fact had a point.

A quick look at Google’s reputation scores on Vanno shows that social responsibility – which by our measure includes avoidance of controversial business, human rights and good governance among other factors – is in fact a weak point in the otherwise stellar reputation of the search and advertising giant.  Issues surrounding privacy (Streetview, health records), copyright (digital book projects), censorship (China until recently) and questionable business practices (behavioral advertising) have all been the subject of extensive online discussion.

By the way, for all Google’s flaws when it comes to social responsibility, Apple is the wrong company to throw the first stone.   They score lower than Google on this count.

Some of Apple’s social responsibility issues are similar to those that Google faces, such as censorship (Dalai Lama and the iPhone) and questionable business practices (DRM).   Other concerns have included manufacturing practices (silicon sweatshops) and corporate governance (refusal to report on sustainability efforts, lack of disclosure surrounding the health of CEO Steve Jobs and options back-dating).

You can learn more about how Google and Apple treat their customers, employees communities, the environment and society in general at Vanno.