The Bull Moose Project has spearheaded a letter sent to the Chairs of the House Judiciary and Energy and Committees, Reps. Jim Jordan and McMorris Rodgers, urging them to call Google co-founder and Alphabet Inc Chairman Larry Page to testify in front of Congress. The New York Young Republican Club joined the Bull Moose Project in signing on to the letter.
Dear Chairs Jordan and McMorris Rodgers:
We are a coalition of conservative organizations, and we write to express our deep concern regarding the lack of transparency and accountability from Larry Page, the co-founder of Google and current Executive Chairman of Alphabet Inc. We urge you to use your influence and legislative authority to compel Mr. Page to testify before Congress and address the significant concerns surrounding his leadership of Alphabet, the parent company of Google and YouTube.
Concerns Raised by Elon Musk’s Comments Recently, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, made headlines when he spoke with Tucker Carlson about his conversations with Larry Page regarding the development and safety of artificial intelligence (AI). According to Musk, Page’s vision for AI seemed to prioritize the development of a “digital super intelligence” or “digital god” without enough regard for potential negative consequences. These comments from Musk, a prominent figure in the technology industry, underscore the urgency of holding Mr. Page accountable for his actions and decisions at Alphabet.
Larry Page’s Active Involvement in Alphabet Despite suggestions that Mr. Page may be semi-retired or “checked out” from Alphabet’s day-to-day operations, recent reports indicate that he remains a key decision-maker within the company. In response to a “code red” issued by Alphabet following the release of OpenAI’s writing tool, CEO Sundar Pichai sought advice from Mr. Page and Sergey Brin, the co-founders of Google, who remain on the board of Alphabet. They reportedly held several meetings with executives to strategize about Google’s AI and approved plans to incorporate more chatbot features into its search engine. As recently as April 26, 2023, a major technology trade reported that, “Larry Page, is still the boss. As a Google co-founder who developed its lucrative search engine, Page remains on Alphabet’s board of directors and controls the company with co-founder Sergey Brin through special stock.”
Instances of Evading Responsibility Mr. Page has demonstrated a pattern of evading responsibility in the past:
● During the FTC’s 18 month-long antitrust investigation of Google from 2011-2012, Page fought to evade requests for deposition.
● In the Waymo(Google)/Uber litigation, Google settled the case the day before Page was set to take the stand.
● Mr. Page has recently obtained New Zealand residency, raising questions about his commitment to transparency and accountability to the American people.
AI Safety and Accountability It is crucial that Mr. Page be held accountable for his actions and decisions at Alphabet, particularly regarding the development and safety of AI. The American people deserve to know how their data is being managed. Congress must ensure that technology giants are held to the same standards of transparency and accountability as other industries. In light of the concerns raised by Elon Musk, it is essential to gain insight into Alphabet’s approach to AI development and safety.
In conclusion, by compelling Larry Page to testify before Congress, you will be taking a critical step toward ensuring that the interests of the American people are being protected. As a highly influential individual in the technology sector, Mr. Page’s actions should not go unchecked, and it is the responsibility of Congress to hold him accountable.
We, the Bull Moose Project, urge you to prioritize this matter and take swift action to compel Larry Page to testify before Congress. Doing so will send a clear message that no individual, regardless of their influence, is above the scrutiny of our democratic institutions.
Thank you for your attention to this important issue. We look forward to your response and continued dedication to preserving economic fairness and accountability in the United States.
Sincerely,
Gavin M. Wax
President
New York Young Republican Club