Google ( GOOG, GOOGL) CEO Sundar Pichai took to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to answer questions before the House Judiciary Committee about, among other things, how…
Google ( GOOG, GOOGL) CEO Sundar Pichai took to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to answer questions before the House Judiciary Committee about, among other things, how the company he leads collects the user data of millions of Americans.
The search giant is one of the largest collectors of user data in history, and with a steady stream of data leaks and hacks impacting companies around the world, it came as no surprise that the committee members would push Google for more information on how much data it collects and what the company is doing to ensure the knowledge it has amassed on its users is kept safe.
And while the bulk of the roughly three-and-a-half-hour-meeting may have been more political sideshow than anything else, many of the committee members expressed their dedication to some form of privacy legislation protecting Americans’ data. And so did Pichai.
One of the main points of contention between the committee and Pichai was just how much information Google collects and if users understand the company is doing so or not.
“With Americans carrying their smartphones all day everyday, Google is able to collect an amount of information about its users that would even make the NSA blush,” said Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Virginia).
“Of course, when users click through the terms of service for these services, they do consent to such collection,” Goodlatte said. “I think it is fair to say that most Americans have no idea the sheer volume of detailed information that is collected.
