Sure, you could interpret it as HR lying. Frequently when people speak using natural languages it is possible to interpret something in ways other than what were meant. It's clear that the HR person meant that Google's rootkit-enabled security software would make a good faith effort not to intrude on personal data. Then the person in the story proposed changing the contract wording to "May only access Google related information and no personal information." This no doubt got forwarded on to a lawyer who said "No can do, that's a legal promise that the security software is 100% bug-free." That would also require wading into the murk of what is "personal data" and what is "Google related information". Does putting your commute schedule on your personal calendar make your personal calendar "Google related"? Are chat messages in which you sexually harass your coworker "personal information"? No lawyer is ever going to sign off on this.