Google's Project Nightingale Secretly Gathers Personal Health Data on Millions of Americans

Code-named Nightingale, the project saw both companies collect personal data from patients, which included lab results, doctor diagnoses, and hospitalization records, as well as patient names and dates of birth.

Patients and doctors were not notified that their data is being shared, and did not give their consent, according to the report.

One individual who was familiar with the project told the Journal that at least 150 Google employees already have access to much of the data on tens of millions of patients.

The partnership will also explore artificial intelligence and machine learning applications to help improve clinical quality, and effectiveness, patient safety and increase consumer and provider satisfaction, according to the statement.

Tariq Shaukat, President of Google Cloud, added: Ascension is a leader at increasing patient access to care across all regions and backgrounds, particularly those in disadvantaged communities.

Ascension also said that its work with Google had been compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act 1996 and underpinned by a robust data security and protection effort and adherence to Ascensions strict requirements for data handling.