Google Continues Its Washington Onslaught
National security on the web will be the next topic tackled by Google at a meeting it holds regularly in Washington, D.C., to highlight web-related issues for regulators and staffers of congressmen. This latest topic is appropriate, given the Obama administration’s recent creation of a cybersecurity czar position. Google said today it would hold its next Google D.C. Talk on June 12. Previous talks have included sessions on cloud computing and privacy. Folks, possibly influenced by Microsoft lobbyists, are getting riled up about Google’s influence in Washington, but these sessions are still better than meetings behind closed doors between lobbyists and staffers. To make it even more open, it would be great if Google would webcast these discussions and post the video afterward. I’d like to see what Google is telling D.C.
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Thanks Stacey for keeping us informed in this area! Of course the people would like a meeting like this webcast, but do you know if it will be recorded at the least and made available to the public?
Sure would be nice to actually practice transparency vs rhetoric.
Unfortunately, to REALLY know what Google is telling DC, you need to follow the money — from Google to the lobbying groups that are in its pay but will not admit it (and often attempt to launder the contributions through foundations, private donors etc.). The New America Foundation, Public Knowledge, and Free Press, to name three that come immediately to mind.
Brett, any proof of such payments? Or should we just take your word for it?
It’s ironic that while many of these groups claim to be in favor of “open” media and transparency, they do what they can to obscure for whom they are working.
While many of these astroturf groups don’t want to acknowledge that they’re Google’s paid lobbyists, you don’t have to dig very deep to find out that they are. The “New America Foundation” lists Eric Schmidt (AKA Google) as having contributed more than 9 million dollars. Public Knowledge acknowledges accepting both money and free labor from Google. Free Press refuses to release the relevant portion of its IRS Form 990, but it appears to be receiving “laundered” money from Google through foundations. It has also received free legal help from lawyers in the pay of Google.
Hi Stacey – Thanks for plugging our panel. For people who can’t make it to Washington, we post video of every Google D.C. Talk to YouTube. We’re also working on setting up a streaming video feed for future events. Stay tuned.