Watchdog Bashes Google, Health IT Stimulus
A Santa Monica, Calif.-based group that has been pressuring Google to enhance the privacy and security of its various Web applications slammed the Internet giant Tuesday for allegedly lobbying to allow the sale of electronic medical records in the latest version of the House economic stimulus legislation, which could reach the floor Wednesday. Consumer Watchdog, a newcomer in Washington privacy circles, said Google is reportedly "pushing for the provisions so it may sell patient medical information to its advertising clients on the new Google Health database." A Google spokesman called the claim "100 percent completely untrue and highly irresponsible."
In a letter to Congress that was also sent to President Barack Obama, Consumer Watchdog asked for the removal of what it perceives as loopholes in the package's ban on the sale of patient data and to include other privacy protections currently absent from the legislation. "Medical privacy must be strengthened before the measure's final passage, rather than allowing corporate interests to take advantage of the larger bill's urgency," the letter stated. For its part, Google is not advocating in favor of the sale of health data and is actively supporting strong privacy protections for medical records, the company spokesman said.
Tech Daily Dose previously reported that Consumer Watchdog is entirely funded by the Rose Foundation, which believes that "environmental stewardship, community regeneration, consumer protection, robust civic participation and a healthy economy are all inextricably linked." Its benefactors laid down $100,000 in 2008 to fund a so-called "Google Privacy Rights Project." In other health IT news, the Senate Judiciary Committee heard perspectives on protecting patient privacy in the digital age. Read more in CongressDaily's PM Edition.
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