Tag Archive | "lobbying"
Google and Facebook Splurge on Lobbying in Q2
Some of the issues Google focused on include competition in online advertising, online privacy and security, free trade, censorship, the H.R. 399 bill and trademark issues. Google’s presence in the U.S. government is spurring some policy watchers, like Consumer Watchdog to call for Eric Schmidt to register as a lobbyist. “Schmidt could well have reached the threshold requiring registration as a lobbyist; he is clearly trying to influence policy,” said John M. Simpson, Director of the nonprofit, nonpartisan public interest group’s Privacy Project. “It certainly should be checked out.”
Continue reading...Mr. Schmidt Goes To Washington: Google Lobbying Hits New High
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Google’s increasing influence in Washington is setting off alarm bells for some policy watchers. California-based public interest group Consumer Watchdog is calling for Google chairman Eric Schmidt to register formally as a lobbyist, since he personally is spending increasing amounts of time working in government relations. “Schmidt could well have reached the threshold requiring registration as a lobbyist; he is clearly trying to influence policy,” said Consumer Watchdog director John Simpson in a press release issued Thursday. “It certainly should be checked out.”
Continue reading...Google and Facebook lobby expense reports likely to set new records Wednesday
Monday, July 18, 2011
Lobbying expenditure reports are due to be filed with the the Senate Office of Public Records Wednesday and you can expect record expenditures from both Facebook and Google.
Continue reading...The Cost of Lost Privacy: How Google and Datamining Drive Economic Inequality in Our Nation
Friday, July 15, 2011
Why has economic inequality increased so radically in the United States over the last generation? General explanations range from globalization to the decline in trade unions to rising returns to education — and therefore the loss of income to the less educated. These all no doubt play a role but in an age of information, […]
Continue reading...Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt to Testify Before Congress on Wi-Spy Scandal
Monday, July 11, 2011
John M. Simpson, director of Consumer Watchdog's Privacy Project commented on the news, "A top Google executive will finally face serious questioning about the company's behavior."
Continue reading...Google And The White House Too Chummy While Firm Under Investigation, Consumer Group Says
Friday, July 8, 2011
A leading California consumer group has formally asked White House counsel to rule on the ethics of what it calls the Obama Administration's "inappropriate" outreach -- including State Dinner invites -- to head honchos of Google, a firm reportedly under criminal investigation by the Justice Department.
Continue reading...U.S. Lawmakers Frustrated By Lack Of Answers About Google Street View Wi-spying
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
In January, Consumer Watchdog released a report that detailed the range of the federal government’s current contracts with Google. The amount of cash the group found is only $40 million, a tiny amount compared to Google’s annual revenue of almost $30 billion. But the contracts give the company a competitive edge in key emerging markets, as well as highlight the deepening relationship between Google and the Obama administration — and the conflicts of interest that could potentially arise.
Continue reading...Tech’s Star CEOs Could Be Drag On Obama
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Jamie Court, who heads Consumer Watchdog, said it's clear the Silicon Valley's tech executives have cultivated a "hoodie and Converse" profile to mask what he says is a traditional corporate adherence to bottom-line profit concerns.
Continue reading...Google: We’ll Pass on the Antitrust Hearing, But if You’ve Got a Dinner Gala Coming Up, Let Us Know
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
As John M. Simpson, director of Consumer Watchdog’s Privacy Project, asked, “How is it that Eric Schmidt has the time to hobnob at a gala White House State Dinner for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, but cannot find time to answer important questions from a Senate committee. What are Page and Schmidt afraid of? What do they have to hide?” Good questions. Someone should subpoena them to find out the answers.
Continue reading...Facebook Hires D.C. Insiders
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
“They could say we are hiring lobbyists to keep government off our back or they could say, ‘We do better when our customers have faith in us and trust us and we'll sit down and negotiate,'” said John Simpson of the Consumer Watchdog. “Up to now, Facebook has stiffed serious attempts at that kind of policy development.”
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Thursday, July 21, 2011
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