US Presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren, alongside Senators Richard Blumenthal and Bill Cassidy, sent a letter to Alphabet Inc’s Google on Wednesday, raising concerns about the company’s access to sensitive health records belonging to tens of millions of Americans.
The bipartisan group of lawmakers—Warren and Blumenthal being Democrats, and Cassidy a Republican—focused their inquiry on Google’s business partnership with Ascension Health, one of the largest healthcare systems in the United States.
Ascension Health operates an extensive network of approximately 150 hospitals and over 50 senior living facilities across the country. It also stands as Google’s largest cloud computing customer in the healthcare sector. The deal between Google and Ascension, first announced in late 2019, grants the tech giant access to vast sets of health data. This data is seen as critical to refining and advancing artificial intelligence tools, which have potential applications ranging from clinical decision support to predictive analytics and operational efficiency improvements in healthcare.
The letter from the senators reflects growing concerns about privacy, data security, and the ethical use of personal health information. While partnerships between tech companies and healthcare providers can drive innovation, the scale and sensitivity of patient data involved demand rigorous oversight and transparency. The lawmakers requested Google provide detailed information about several key points, such as which other health systems may be sharing data with Google under similar agreements, and how Ascension patients would be informed about the data-sharing arrangement.
One of the pressing questions raised was whether patients who receive care from Ascension facilities would have the option to opt out of the data-sharing project with Google. This issue is critical because healthcare data is deeply personal, and patient consent and autonomy remain central to ethical data handling practices. The senators sought clarity on whether Ascension clients would be explicitly informed and given control over their data’s participation in the program.
Another major concern was whether the health data accessed by Google could be used for advertising purposes. Given Google’s primary business model is advertising-driven, the prospect of health data being leveraged to target ads raises significant privacy alarms. The senators’ letter sought assurances that the data would be strictly used for healthcare-related AI development and not commercial advertising, which could breach patient trust and regulatory boundaries.
Google responded promptly to the letter, expressing its willingness to answer the questions posed by the lawmakers. In an official email statement, the company emphasized that its collaboration with Ascension complies with all relevant healthcare regulations, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which sets standards for the protection of sensitive patient information.
“We believe Google’s work with Ascension adheres to industry-wide regulations (including HIPAA) regarding patient data, and comes with strict guidance on data privacy, security, and usage,” the company said. Google stressed that it maintains rigorous controls on how data is handled and that privacy protections are built into the partnership.
The situation underscores the tension between innovation and privacy that characterizes much of the current intersection of healthcare and technology. While AI and cloud computing can unlock transformative insights and efficiencies in patient care, the means by which data is accessed and utilized remain highly scrutinized.
The letter from Senators Warren, Blumenthal, and Cassidy signals increased legislative and public attention to how tech companies engage with sensitive health information. It also reflects the broader political climate in which data privacy, corporate power, and the influence of large technology businesses are hot-button issues ahead of the 2020 US Presidential election.
As healthcare providers increasingly adopt cloud technologies and AI-driven tools, the balance between leveraging data for medical advancement and safeguarding patient rights will be critical. Transparency about data use, robust security measures, and clear patient consent mechanisms will be necessary to maintain trust.
This inquiry into Google’s partnership with Ascension may serve as a precedent for how lawmakers approach the oversight of other collaborations between tech companies and healthcare systems. It highlights the need for ongoing vigilance to ensure that advancements in healthcare technology do not come at the expense of individual privacy or ethical standards.
In conclusion, the letter from prominent US Senators to Google reflects mounting concerns about the handling of health data in the era of cloud computing and AI. The collaboration between Google and Ascension exemplifies the potential and risks involved in such partnerships, emphasizing the importance of transparency, patient rights, and regulatory compliance as these technologies continue to evolve.
Initial reporting via Reuters. Reporting by Diane Bartz; Editing by Marguerita Choy.