Donald Trump hints at treason probe into Google after Peter Thiel complaint
US President Donald Trump has hinted his administration might investigate Google for treason, after entrepreneur Peter Thiel called on the FBI and CIA to probe the company.
Speaking on Twitter, the President said his administration will “take a look” at allegations Google has worked with the Chinese government.
Read more: Donald Trump says his trade war tariffs are ‘major factor’ in China slowdown
He cited Thiel’s argument, repeated from US news show Fox and Friends, that authorities should probe the search giant.
“‘Billionaire tech investor Peter Thiel believes Google should be investigated for treason. He accuses Google of working with the Chinese government.’ @foxandfriends,” Trump said.
He added: “A great and brilliant guy who knows this subject better than anyone! The Trump administration will take a look!”
Thiel, who sits on the board of Facebook, on Sunday said that Google allegedly aided the Chinese military.
His comments, reported by news site Axios, came at the National Conservatism Conference.
He said Google should be asked three questions by investigators:
“Number one, how many foreign intelligence agencies have infiltrated your Manhattan Project for AI?
“Number two, does Google’s senior management consider itself to have been thoroughly infiltrated by Chinese intelligence?
“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?”
Read more: President Trump weighs ousting of commerce secretary Wilbur Ross
Thiel is considered the industry’s most prominent supporter of Donald Trump.
It is not the first time that Trump has tweeted on the issue. In March he accused Google of helping the Chinese military.
Main image credit: Getty