Should Google Be Investigated for ‘Treason’ for Working With China?

What’s the story?

• President Donald Trump said he will “take a look” at investigating Google for treason after investor Peter Thiel claimed the company had been infiltrated by Chinese agents and was working with Beijing.
• Thiel, who sits on Facebook’s board and is a high-profile Trump supporter, told the National Conservatism Conference over the weekend that the FBI and CIA need to ask three questions of Google:

1. "Number one, how many foreign intelligence agencies have infiltrated your Manhattan Project for AI?
2. "Number two, does Google's senior management consider itself to have been thoroughly infiltrated by Chinese intelligence?
3. "Number three, is it because they consider themselves to be so thoroughly infiltrated that they have engaged in the seemingly treasonous decision to work with the Chinese military and not with the US military... because they are making the sort of bad, short-term rationalistic [decision] that if the technology doesn't go out the front door, it gets stolen out the backdoor anyway?"

• Thiel provided no evidence to back up his claims when pressed on Monday, saying he was just “raising questions.”

What did Trump say?

“Billionaire Tech Investor Peter Thiel believes Google should be investigated for treason. He accuses Google of working with the Chinese Government.” @foxandfriends A great and brilliant guy who knows this subject better than anyone! The Trump Administration will take a look!"

What do you think?

Should the FBI and CIA investigate Google for possible treason? Take action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.

—Josh Herman

(Photo Credit: iStock / fototrav)