Does Google allow side projects on your own time using your own resources? Amazon is pretty flexible when it comes to that but I'm hearing that Google is very strict and you have to have official approval before working on something even on your own time.
The official policy is strict - by default, Google basically owns everything you think of. Unofficially, I think it basically won't matter except in extreme cases (e.g. you're directly ripping off your team's tech to start a competitor). Still, I feel it's better to get official approval. I've not had any trouble getting official approval of my side projects.
Did you work at Google?
Yes.
Did you get the companies mixed up?
+1
Where's your confusion coming from?