Politicians are not comfortable with technology. That was firmly established when earlier this year when US Congress proved itself overwhelmingly useless in putting forth the right question to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
Now, a Republican congressman ended up asking a question about Apple’s iPhone to Google CEO Sundar Pichai during a Congressional hearing on Tuesday.
While trying to make a point about tech giant’s alleged anti-conservative bias, Congressman Steve King “I have a 7-year-old granddaughter who picked up her phone before the election, and she’s playing a little game, the kind of game a kid would play,” King said.
“And up on there pops a picture of her grandfather,” he said. “And I’m not going to say into the record what kind of language was used around that picture of her grandfather, but I’d ask you: How does that show up on a 7-year-old’s iPhone, who’s playing a kid’s game?”
To this Pichai hesitatingly said,” “Congressman, the iPhone is made by a different company. And so, you know, I mean…”
King soon changed tracks and said it “might have been an Android,” which is made by Google. “It was a hand-me-down of some kind.”
Pichai, who seemed at a loss for words, said he would be “happy to follow up when I understand the specifics.”
The faux pas elicited laughter on social media how could a Congressman would not know that iPhone is made by Apple and not Google.
Maybe learn what an iPhone is before you claim to be the superior race https://t.co/9s5Igj43Of
— Lauren Duca (@laurenduca) December 11, 2018
Steve King just asked Google CEO Sundar Pichai why his granddaughter got spammed on her iPhone.
Pichai: “Congressman, iPhone is made by another company.”— Dusty (@DustinGiebel) December 11, 2018
Steve King to Google: “Why can’t you help me make my Gramophone work right?” pic.twitter.com/3RgyJjqNzV
— JimAndrews518 (@JimAndrews518) December 11, 2018
What Steve King thinks goes in at google pic.twitter.com/DrSvhEnDdC
— Michael (@mlip16) December 11, 2018
LOL Steve King complained to the CEO of Google that his granddaughter saw someone called him a piece of shit online_ https://t.co/LN8IDDivSd
— Ike Barinholtz (@ikebarinholtz) December 11, 2018
In his defense, his “lane” is white supremacy, not technology companies.
— Joel Shoe (@JoelShoe) December 11, 2018
When @SteveKingIA sees an #iPhone _ pic.twitter.com/lM9b9yZmLZ
— Rogue NASA (@RogueNASA) December 11, 2018