Google CEO to rebut privacy, bias criticisms before Congress
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Google CEO Sundar Pichai will tell lawmakers Tuesday that the company takes user privacy seriously, doesn't bake political bias into its products and is proud to work with the U.S. government, according to his prepared testimony posted by the House Judiciary Committee.
Why it matters: Pichai will face tough questions from both Democrats and Republicans on the committee on a wide range of issues during the hearing, exposing him to the same frustrations Congress directed at execs from Facebook and Twitter earlier this year.
What he'll say: "I’m incredibly proud of what Google does to empower people around the world, especially here in the U.S."
- That political bias doesn't play a role on Google's platforms. "I lead this company without political bias and work to ensure that our products continue to operate that way." (The claim, popular with many congressional Republicans, that Google's products are skewed by anti-conservative bias has not been proven by evidence or reporting.)
- That the company values privacy. "We have invested an enormous amount of work over the years to bring choice, transparency, and control to our users. These values are built into every product we make."
- The company is "proud" to work with the government, even though it backed away from a Defense Department project under employee pressure. "As an American company, we cherish the values and freedoms that have allowed us to grow and serve so many users. I am proud to say we do work, and we will continue to work, with the government to keep our country safe and secure."
Go deeper: Google's turn for the Facebook treatment
