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Google CEO testifies to Congress on political bias claims – live | Google CEO testifies to Congress on political bias claims – live |
(35 minutes later) | |
The hearing was just briefly interrupted by a protestor holding a sign. | |
A protester just opened the doors to the hearing room Google CEO @sundarpichai is testifying in and held up this sign. pic.twitter.com/MRj8sM7H1P | |
The first truly interesting question of the day is from Sheila Jackson Lee, who asks about Project Dragonfly, a reported plan for Google to build a censored search engine in China. Unfortunately, Pichai sticks to Google’s talking point – “Right now there are no plans to launch search in China” – and Jackson Lee does not follow up. | |
The back-and-forth between Lamar Smith and Sundar Pichai is indicative of the unreasonableness of certain Republicans on the largely specious question of partisan bias in search results. Smith raised some questionable studies; Pichai pointed out that Google disagrees with their methodology. Smith: “What does methodology have to do with the fact that 96% of the references to Trump are from liberal media?”Pichai doesn’t respond, but methodology has a lot to do with that “fact”. Smith: “You never sanctioned any employee for manipulating the search results.”Pichai: “It’s not possible for an individual or groups of employees to manipulate our search results…”Smith: “I disagree.” | The back-and-forth between Lamar Smith and Sundar Pichai is indicative of the unreasonableness of certain Republicans on the largely specious question of partisan bias in search results. Smith raised some questionable studies; Pichai pointed out that Google disagrees with their methodology. Smith: “What does methodology have to do with the fact that 96% of the references to Trump are from liberal media?”Pichai doesn’t respond, but methodology has a lot to do with that “fact”. Smith: “You never sanctioned any employee for manipulating the search results.”Pichai: “It’s not possible for an individual or groups of employees to manipulate our search results…”Smith: “I disagree.” |
Pichai has been asked about steps he will take to counter right wing extremism on You Tube. | Pichai has been asked about steps he will take to counter right wing extremism on You Tube. |
Google CEO @sundarpichai is asked by Democratic Rep. Jerrold Nadler what the company is doing to combat white supremacism and right-wing extremism on YouTube. Pichai says there are policies against hate speech and, "If we find any violations, we will take down the content." | Google CEO @sundarpichai is asked by Democratic Rep. Jerrold Nadler what the company is doing to combat white supremacism and right-wing extremism on YouTube. Pichai says there are policies against hate speech and, "If we find any violations, we will take down the content." |
Pichai’s prepared testimony, which he is reading now, is focused on parrying the allegations of political bias: | Pichai’s prepared testimony, which he is reading now, is focused on parrying the allegations of political bias: |
“I lead this company without political bias and work to ensure that our products continue to operate that way. To do otherwise would go against our core principles and our business interests. We are a company that provides platforms for diverse perspectives and opinions—and we have no shortage of them among our own employees. Some of our Googlers are former servicemen and women who have risked much in defense of our country. Some are civil libertarians who fiercely defend freedom of expression. Some are parents who worry about the role technology plays in our households. Some—like me—are immigrants to this country, profoundly grateful for the freedoms and opportunities it offers. Some of us are many of these things.” | “I lead this company without political bias and work to ensure that our products continue to operate that way. To do otherwise would go against our core principles and our business interests. We are a company that provides platforms for diverse perspectives and opinions—and we have no shortage of them among our own employees. Some of our Googlers are former servicemen and women who have risked much in defense of our country. Some are civil libertarians who fiercely defend freedom of expression. Some are parents who worry about the role technology plays in our households. Some—like me—are immigrants to this country, profoundly grateful for the freedoms and opportunities it offers. Some of us are many of these things.” |
The opening statements from Kevin McCarthy, Bob Goodlatte and Jerry Nadler give a preview of the major issues that we’ll hear about today. McCarthy, who spoke as a witness, focused on Google’s Project Dragonfly, a plan to produce a censored search engine for China. “Are America’s tech companies serving as instruments of freedom or instruments of control?” McCarthy asked. Goodlatte, who appears well versed in how Google’s products work, noted, “Google is able to collect an amount of information about its users that would even make the NSA blush.”He also spent several minutes discussing the troubling nature of “allegations Google manipulates its algorithms to favor the political party its likes, the ideas it likes or the products it likes” – allegations that he offered no evidence for. Nadler points out that “no credible evidence supports this rightwing conspiracy theory”, but that will not stop Republican representatives from spending a considerable amount of time on it today. | The opening statements from Kevin McCarthy, Bob Goodlatte and Jerry Nadler give a preview of the major issues that we’ll hear about today. McCarthy, who spoke as a witness, focused on Google’s Project Dragonfly, a plan to produce a censored search engine for China. “Are America’s tech companies serving as instruments of freedom or instruments of control?” McCarthy asked. Goodlatte, who appears well versed in how Google’s products work, noted, “Google is able to collect an amount of information about its users that would even make the NSA blush.”He also spent several minutes discussing the troubling nature of “allegations Google manipulates its algorithms to favor the political party its likes, the ideas it likes or the products it likes” – allegations that he offered no evidence for. Nadler points out that “no credible evidence supports this rightwing conspiracy theory”, but that will not stop Republican representatives from spending a considerable amount of time on it today. |
Sunder Pichai is now reading his prepared testimony which is available here. | Sunder Pichai is now reading his prepared testimony which is available here. |
Both Bob Goodlatte, the outgoing chair of the Judiciary Committee and Jerry Nadler, the top Democrat who will take over in January, have given opening statements and Pichai will now begin his prepared remarks | Both Bob Goodlatte, the outgoing chair of the Judiciary Committee and Jerry Nadler, the top Democrat who will take over in January, have given opening statements and Pichai will now begin his prepared remarks |
Google CEO Sunder Pichai has taken his seat in the House Judiciary hearing room and opening statements have begun before his testimony. | Google CEO Sunder Pichai has taken his seat in the House Judiciary hearing room and opening statements have begun before his testimony. |
Several Democratic senators sent a letter to the White House yesterday asking questions about Fox News’s bonus payments to top communications aide Bill Shine. | Several Democratic senators sent a letter to the White House yesterday asking questions about Fox News’s bonus payments to top communications aide Bill Shine. |
Shine left Fox News last year after facing allegations that he helped cover up serial sexual harassment by Roger Ailes. | Shine left Fox News last year after facing allegations that he helped cover up serial sexual harassment by Roger Ailes. |
As CNBC reports: | As CNBC reports: |
The senators’ letter is addressed to acting White House counsel Emmet Flood. In it, the lawmakers argue that the payments Shine received when he departed the network and the millions he continues to rake in may be in breach of ethic laws. | The senators’ letter is addressed to acting White House counsel Emmet Flood. In it, the lawmakers argue that the payments Shine received when he departed the network and the millions he continues to rake in may be in breach of ethic laws. |
“21st Century’s Fox’s previous and ongoing payments to Mr. Shine of millions of dollars in severance payments raise questions about his compliance with federal conflict of interest statutes and regulations,” they wrote. | “21st Century’s Fox’s previous and ongoing payments to Mr. Shine of millions of dollars in severance payments raise questions about his compliance with federal conflict of interest statutes and regulations,” they wrote. |