On 7/19/2022, during House Judiciary Committee hearing on the government’s access to individuals’ digital data, U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz (FL-01) slammed former Republican Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte over Disney’s practice of buying and selling data collected via their mobile apps and more. Rep. Gaetz called out Chairman Goodlatte’s “K Street” hypocrisy of warning the Judiciary Committee on how data collection practices can violate Constitutional rights, while at the same time taking money from Disney as a lobbyist to engage in the very same practice he’s testifying against.
Rep. Gaetz also asked Chairman Goodlatte, under oath, to recall a conversation they had at the Capitol Hill Club where the chairman allegedly k, “The best way to be successful in the Judiciary Committee is to find interest groups that are opposed to one another and to tell both of them that you’ll support their position so they’ll both make donations.”
Gaetz: Chairman Goodlatte, does the Walt Disney corporation engage in this terrifying data marketplace?
Goodlatte: I don’t know the answer to that
Gaetz: but sure they’re lobbyists right?
Goodlatte: I work I do work for them but I don’t know the answer to your question
Gaetz: so you you used to chair this committee you come here and you you tell us about all the harm in this data uh enterprise but you don’t know that I mean you’re the Republican that the Disney corporation hired because they have problems with the Republicans and you didn’t ever talk to him about this?
Goodlatte: I came here today to testify regarding the importance of this legislation which as you noted is bipartisan and uh it
Gaetz: so the LA times says Disney is running the happiest surveillance operation on earth. Had you seen that article from the LA times?
Goodlatte: I’ve not seen it I think.
Gaetz: I think it might have been when you were Chairman that it came out and Disney’s actually been sued and they’ve been sued because Disney installs software on applications … and then they they not only buy data from data brokers Disney then turns around and sells the data that they collect … are you familiar with that litigation?
Goodlatte: I am not
Gaetz: there’s a Forbes article that came out while you were chairman of this committee and it talks about the robots that Disney sends around its park to collect data on the people at the park to utilize quote Disney is even dabbling in making robotic versions of Mickey and Minnie and all of its characters that would move around with the guests and interact with them so as you sit here and talk to us about the harm of this data enterprise are you concerned that the people who pay you also engage in that very same work
Goodlatte: I think that it would be appropriate for the congress to look at data collection practices beyond the scope of what this committee is looking at here today but I also think it’s very important to understand that what government can do with that data is very different than what individual enterprises can do and so that’s why I’m here to talk about the fourth amendment
Gaetz: sometimes right I saw in your testimony you say well only the government can tax you and only the government can regulate you but what I’m worried about is that private entities can try to program you they can try to get you to think a certain way and they can use this data in a very harmful way and like particularly with the walt Disney corporation that is in business with the Chinese communist party that thanks the Chinese communist party for all of the accommodations they got on the filming of Mulan like you know. Does it concern you that the Walt Disney corporation is selling the information of children I don’t know that that’s the fact are you being purposefully ignorant to the fact that Walt engages in the very activities that you’re here testifying against?
Goodlatte: well I do not know the facts
Gaetz: are you are you purposely not learning them so that you can simultaneously take money from Disney to try to make them look less evil to republicans and then advocate on behalf of other organizations before the congress that critique the very work that Disney’s doing
Goodlatte: I’m here to advocate on behalf of uh people who are concerned about abuses of the fourth amendment
Gaetz: Chairman good luck. Do you remember a conversation you and I had when you led this committee at the capitol hill club where you said the best way to be successful in the judiciary committee is to find interest groups that are opposed to one another and to tell both of them that you’ll support their position so they’ll both make donations to your
Goodlatte: I definitely do not
Gaetz: you’re under oath Mr. Chairman
Goodlatte: your own conversation I do not
Gaetz: no well I hope that’s not the case in lobby …
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Does Disney buy & sell data? Gaetz slams former GOP Chairman turned Disney lobbyist hypocrisy