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With public outcry over the huge mountains of money in government, Google’s recent increase in lobbying expenditures could be troublesome. The search giant now spends more than Microsoft lobbying the federal government, $9.68 million in 2011 according to the company’s recent public filings. That is nearly double the 2010 number. This came in a year when government agencies and the congress took a closer look at the Internet than ever before.
The filings do not break down the spending by issue, but Google has said that the spending covers everything from online advertising regulation, to renewable energy policy. Google saw major scrutiny of its business practices last year related to its purchase of Motorola Mobility, online ad-buys, and search growth. Some of these actions are flirting with real antitrust investigation.
It has been speculated that a large chunk of this increase in spending is related to the now-defunct SOPA and PIPA bills. This legislation would have put great stress on Google’s business as it would have been forced to filter its search results at the behest of copyright holders. Does Google’s spending on lobbyist spending make you uncomfortable?
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OCFRED
January 23, 2012 at 11:40pm
Cost of doing business is greasing the squeaky wheels, like in most bustling institutions before the competition breaks an ice pick shard off in Your back.
Meat_Juice
January 23, 2012 at 8:22pm
Inevitably it will be the US government and corporate America that will ruin the internet for the world.
OccultAssassin
January 24, 2012 at 11:02am
The internet isn't the only thing these incompetent rambling jokers will destroy.
opticallog
January 23, 2012 at 6:31pm
The root of the problem is that it's very lucrative to have the government on your side, and very expensive and disastrous to have them against you. This is why you see such large sums of money being spent to influence the decisions of our politicians. If the Government wasn't in the business of picking winners and losers, the favors it could grant wouldn't be worth spending so much money to influence. It's not just corporations that do this. Unions are actually a far bigger contributor of campaign and lobbying cash than any other lobbying group. Add to that other citizen advocacy groups from all sides of the political spectrum like the NRA, Planned Parenthood, etc., and you get lots of people from all sides trying to buy protection from the Feds. Ultimately Al Capone and his "insurance" business had nothing on today's politicians.
jdes
January 23, 2012 at 5:54pm
aahh google was good to you this time round.
dont count on them in future.
any way i thought liberals hated lobyists
mellamojay
January 23, 2012 at 4:16pm
I am uncomfortable because while google is mostly on our side the fact remains that only those with money can get things done in our country. How much did the other side spend to get their stuff passed? The idea that you can pay to get the ear of legislature is ridiculous.
shimonmor
January 23, 2012 at 3:35pm
Once again we see the way our government really works: Money Talks. Sure Google is seen as one of the "good guys". But the lobby system only favors large corporations with a lot of cash laying around so they can "convince" (bribe) politicians to see things their way. Of course, there are no guarantees that spending money on lobbying efforts will yield political results...but generally speaking, if you spend a lot on lobbying, politicians will at least listen and if you throw in campaign contributions into their war chests, your lobbying efforts have a better chance to succeed. We need to get a rid of the entire lobby system and make corporations write letters to their congressmen like the rest of us mere mortals. No shortcuts should be allowed no matter how much money you have. Equal voices for all.
firefox91
January 23, 2012 at 4:06pm
I was going to say something but this guy pretty much nailed it on the head with everything he said. I hate the game, but you have to play it to win. In this case, Google played in our favor to help knock SOPA and PIPA down a few notches.
Supall
January 23, 2012 at 3:13pm
I don't consider it troublesome. Many of those congressmen cannot comprehend the scope of the technology that exists. Google is there to protect the internet, its only source of business and revenue. I am not surprised at all.
wintercoder
January 23, 2012 at 4:58pm
Every company is there to protect the turf they play on. Their lobbying may bring you cheaper android devices, or free maps... but in the process they probably put four or five smaller companies out of business because they can't compete with Big-G's 'generosity'.
SOMEBODY pays for EVERYTHING. I suppose just because you're getting your widget or your doo-dad for free... its ok by you, huh?
Too many people have their hands out.
Supall
January 24, 2012 at 8:10am
Damn right its okay by me. Why pay for something that is legally offered for free? If you want me to pay for my widgets or "doo-dads", then offer something that makes it worth its costs. Why should I prop up companies that don't offer anything of real value?
You obviously have a biased hate towards Google and its offer of free services. Google lobbying for its interests in Congress only makes it more appropriate when the MPAA, RIAA, and ESA have tried to push laws that would stifle others, spreading misinformation about the internet. I mean, if a company like Google is willing to give an entire town Fiber Optic networking for just about nothing, or give a competing product (Firefox) a continued deal, then why should Google receive any criticism for the money it is now spending on lobbying Congress?
alexw1234
January 23, 2012 at 2:57pm
Not in the least, i enjoy using there services, which perform almost always as advertised. The fact that they didn't support SOPA/PIPA is a major win as well.
