Google's Schmidt to Testify at Senate Hearing
Google Chairman Eric Schmidt will testify at a September hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee's Antitrust Subcommittee, Senator Mike Lee said on Friday.
"I look forward to discussing a number of important issues relating to Google and Internet search competition," Lee said.
Google is in the midst of an antitrust probe by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission over complaints that its search results favor the company's other services, among other issues.
The announcement comes after an intensive campaign by Consumer Watchdog to require Schmidt's sworn testimony before Congress .
Consumer Watchdog, a nonprofit, nonpartisan public interest group, first called for Schmidt to appear to explain the Internet giant's Wi-Spy scandal in which its Street View cars gathered information from private Wi-Fi networks in more than 30 countries. Consumer Watchdog has also pushed for a full-blown antitrust investigation of Google, which the Federal Trade Commission recently launched.
"A top Google executive will finally face serious questioning about the company's behavior," said John M. Simpson, director of Consumer Watchdog's Privacy Project. "Schmidt was CEO for the past decade, so it's appropriate he be called. Now that Larry Page has taken over that position, he should also be held accountable and be required to testify as well. Given Google's inconsistencies between actions and statements in the past, we trust Schmidt's testimony will be given under oath."
Google is in the midst of an antitrust probe by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission over complaints that its search results favor the company's other services, among other issues.
The announcement comes after an intensive campaign by Consumer Watchdog to require Schmidt's sworn testimony before Congress .
Consumer Watchdog, a nonprofit, nonpartisan public interest group, first called for Schmidt to appear to explain the Internet giant's Wi-Spy scandal in which its Street View cars gathered information from private Wi-Fi networks in more than 30 countries. Consumer Watchdog has also pushed for a full-blown antitrust investigation of Google, which the Federal Trade Commission recently launched.
"A top Google executive will finally face serious questioning about the company's behavior," said John M. Simpson, director of Consumer Watchdog's Privacy Project. "Schmidt was CEO for the past decade, so it's appropriate he be called. Now that Larry Page has taken over that position, he should also be held accountable and be required to testify as well. Given Google's inconsistencies between actions and statements in the past, we trust Schmidt's testimony will be given under oath."
