October 02, 2014

Wyden, Leading Tech Companies to Discuss Impact of U.S. Mass Surveillance on Digital Economy

Executives from Dropbox, Facebook, Google, Greylock Partners, Microsoft highlight Silicon Valley roundtable

WASHINGTONSenate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., will hold a Chairman’s Roundtable with leadership from the technology industry including Dropbox, Facebook, Google, Greylock Partners and Microsoft on Wednesday, October 8 on the topic of “The Impact of Mass Surveillance on the Digital Economy”. 

In his first public forum in Silicon Valley as chairman, Senator Wyden will examine how consumer and foreign government responses to U.S. mass surveillance programs are challenging U.S. innovation and global competitiveness. 

The roundtable will take place at 11:00 a.m. PDT in the gymnasium of Palo Alto High School – where Senator Wyden played high school basketball. 

It has been widely recognized that dragnet surveillance of electronic communications by U.S. intelligence agencies raises privacy concerns for millions of law-abiding people. But less attention has been paid to the immediate and future impact of these programs on the digital economy and exports of U.S. goods and services. Chairman Wyden, who has long advocated the importance of the U.S. taking a leading role in ensuring that the Internet remains an open platform for communication and commerce, will lead discussion on these issues during this roundtable.

 

Who:

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden

Eric Schmidt — Executive Chairman, Google

Brad Smith —  Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Microsoft

Colin Stretch — General Counsel, Facebook

Ramsey Homsany — General Counsel, Dropbox

John Lilly — Partner, Greylock Partners

 

 

 

What:

Roundtable to discuss how U.S. mass surveillance programs are impacting the digital economy

 

 

Where:

Palo Alto High School

 

Gymnasium

 

50 Embarcadero Rd

 

 

Palo Alto, CA 94301

 

 

 

 

When:

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

 

11 am PDT/2 pm EDT

Media are encouraged to attend the roundtable or to view the livestream on Senator Wyden's YouTube Channel.


While RSVPs are not required, they are strongly encouraged. Please RSVP here or below: