US: Google a no-show at DC tech hearings

Larry Page, the chief executive of Alphabet, declined the invitation to appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday, September 5, despite testimonies from two of his industry peers, reported the Wall Street Journal.

The absence of Google was a major disappointment for lawmakers on the Committee, who kept a seat open in the hearing room to exhibit the company’s lack of participation alongside Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Facebook’s chief operating officer, Sheryl Sandberg.

According to the Wall Street Journal, in noting the empty chair with a placard bearing Google’s name, senators chided the internet company for failing to publicly address key issues around the use of online platforms.

“Given its size and influence, I would have thought that leadership at Google would have wanted to demonstrate how seriously it takes these challenges and to actually take a leadership role in this important discussion,” Senator Mark Warner (D, VA) said in his remarks. “Unfortunately, they didn’t choose to make that decision.”

Full Content: The Wall Street Journal