Google’s chief executive, Sundar Pichai, joined other executives of primary-generation corporations Wednesday at a hearing before the House antitrust subcommittee. The questions to Google echoed many’ complaint that, while adapting to a dominant online search tool, the corporate generation began to nurtur their own interests in search effects and blocked competition traffic.
During the audience, Pichai and Google gave the impression of being the ultimate non-unusual target for sensitive issues. The first consultation of the chairman of the committee, Rep. David Cicilline, D-R. I., addressed Pichai and hinted at accusations that Google stole content from developing companies and jeopardized its business. Pichai insisted that Google runs directly with small businesses to help them, while avoiding answering the query directly.
Cicilline then asked about accusations that Google is favoring search effects that are of the company’s best productive interest. Pichai replied that the corporate only seeks to provide users with the maximum applicable information. He also claimed that the “vast majority” of Google search engines received no advertising.
“One of Google’s memos noted that some Internet sites were getting, and I quote, “too much traffic,” so Google put an end to this,” Cicilline said, referring to longstanding allegations from sites like Yelp.
Although Yelp criticized Google for eliminating traffic, Pichai said he was unaware of the express accusations.
An unusual thread throughout the hearing was that members of the Republican committee focused on anecdotal accusations of anti-conservative bias in the primary technology component, rather than antitrust accusations. At one point, Rep. Gregory Steube, a Florida Republican, insisted on Pichai about why so many of his cross-mails can be sent in spam files in Gmail. Pichai discredited this possible bias, saying it was a non-unusual technical problem.
“There’s nothing in the set of rules that has anything to do with political ideology,” Pichai said. “We get court cases from across the hall.”
Rep. Val Demmings, a Florida Democrat, added that the same had happened with his crusade emails.
Pichai also asked about alleged ties with the Chinese government and the cancellation of certain contracts with the U.S. military. These questions came here for top Republicans who wonder about the company’s patriotism. Pichai trusted the committee that Google pledged to go out with the military and described its Chinese presence as “limited.”
Silicon Valley has long relied on foreign talent, such as Google CEO Sundar Pichai to bring its Photo effects to life: AFP/ Fabrice COFFRINI