Google leaves an empty chair at Senate hearing on internet companies

The United States Senate Committee on Intelligence convened on Sept 5 to review the practices of internet platform companies, especially as they relate to protecting against any further election interference. What was notable was who refused to participate: the alpha dog of the internet—Google. Instead of an open back-and-forth that would educate both the senators and the public, Google determined that written testimony from their general counsel was sufficient. As someone who represented emerging industries in Washington for decades and went on to become a regulator, Google’s decision not to be part of the discussion is a strategic mistake of virtually incalculable proportions for both themselves as well as the Silicon Valley companies they have come to represent. When the Congress of the United States decides to inquire into your activities, the choice is simple: you can either be at the table and meaningfully engaged, or you can be on the table as your business practices are dissected by others.

The reality for Google—and for other Silicon Valley companies—is that the good old days of the public and policy makers standing in awe of what they built is over.  There is a window of opportunity to effectively engage with the Congress. Stonewalling is not a strategy for such engagement. Clearly, Facebook and Twitter have determined to seize the opportunity for such dialog. Whatever the rationale behind Google’s absence, it was a huge mistake not to engage with the Congress of the United States. Continued evasion can only have negative consequences, not just for Google, but also for the companies they have come to represent.

[Tom Wheeler is the former Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission]