Big tech awash in privacy issues

Apple, Google, Twitter, Amazon next up to testify in Washington

U.S. tech giants, facing pressure around the world over their business practices, are also increasingly having to answer their lawmakers’ questions here at home.

That will happen again on Sept. 26, when executives from Apple, Amazon, Google and Twitter will appear before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation to answer questions about consumer data privacy.

Also testifying at the hearing will be executives from AT&T and

Charter Communications.

“Consumers deserve clear answers and standards on data privacy protection,” said Sen.

John Thune, R-South

Dakota, chairman of the committee, in a statement Wednesday.

“This hearing will provide leading technology companies and internet service providers an opportunity to explain their approaches to privacy, how they plan to address new requirements from the European Union and California, and what Congress can do to promote clear privacy expectations without hurting innovation.”

Tech companies are facing tough new privacy rules in Europe, the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), which took effect in May. A month later, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a new data privacy bill that’s set to take effect in 2020. The California Consumer Privacy Act is facing pushback from the tech industry, which on Wednesday called for federal regulations instead.

“Internet companies support an economywide, national approach to regulation that protects the privacy of all Americans,” said Internet

“Consumers deserve clear answers and standards on data privacy protection.” — Sen. John Thune, R-S.D.

Association President and CEO Michael Beckerman.

Recent privacy-related headlines involving tech giants includes Google facing an investigation over location tracking; Amazon explaining why its Echo smart speaker recorded and shared a family’s conversation without their knowledge; and Facebook’s Cambridge Analytica scandal.

The following tech company executives are on the Sept. 26 witness list:

• Andrew DeVore, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Amazon. com

• Keith Enright, Chief Privacy Officer, Google

• Damian Kieran, Global Data Protection Officer and Associate Legal Director, Twitter

• Guy (Bud) Tribble, Vice President for Software Technology, Apple

Two prominent tech executives traveled to Capitol Hill earlier this month. Twitter Chief Executive Jack Dorsey appeared at two Congressional hearings on Sept. 5 over his company’s practices.

Lawmakers also grilled Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg along with Dorsey during one of the hearings, over issues such as privacy, foreign interference in U.S. elections and more.