Products News Case Studies Contact About Us
Home
Download from Hit Search Recurn on InvestmentSearch Engine OptimisationPay Per Click
Hit Search SEO Liverpool Contact Hit Search on
0845 643 9289

Google Comes Under Fire For Political Contributions

by Andrew Redfern @ 8th November 2008 8:11 pm

California campaign disclosures show that Google, Inc. [GOOG] - which is under fire from privacy advocates and government regulators - made what appears to be the first political contributions to elected officials in the company’s history.

The $77,800 in contributions includes $25,000 to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and $3,400, near the maximum contribution allowed, to both the Republican and Democratic leaders of the California Assembly. A search of state records in California and federal reporting by the Center for Responsive Politics shows no prior Google Inc. political contributions.

The nonpartisan group Consumer Watchdog said Google’s engagement with political contributions signals a troubling shift in the company’s direction.

“Google’s purpose has clearly grown beyond creating the best search engine to protecting and expanding a highly profitable business model,” said Consumer Watchdog president Jamie Court. “It’s hard for a company to maintain its motto ‘Do No Evil’ when the currency it brings to politics is not just information and analysis, but also the root of all evil, cash for politicians.”

Records show the contributions were made in late October after Consumer Watchdog had written Google about serious privacy concerns with the company’s products and intervened at the Justice Department to stop Google’s proposed advertising alliance with Yahoo.

Also Consumer Watchdog created a popular YouTube video showing how your computer could be having an unnoticed conversation about you with Google’s servers. Read the letter and watch the video at http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/google. Citizens have sent more than 23,000 e-mails and faxes to Google’s Board of Directors, from the Consumer Watchdog action page, calling on the company to improve its privacy standards.

Would you like to know about Internet Marketing? If so, contact Hit Search, Search Engine Optimisation and Pay Per Click & Social Space Marketing specialists, on 0845 643 9289. Remember, its a big world out there, make sure you become visible.



Other Related Stories That May Be Of Interest:

  1. Huffington Post Leads Political Blogs During Election Season
  2. YouChoose brings us online interactive nominations mashup
  3. Women sues over Facebook Beacon privacy violation
  4. Google comment on privacy
  5. Google Push Citizentube; As YouTube Changes The World…
  6. blinkx brings footage Guinness World Records
  7. Bicycle Google Street View Capture The North
  8. Myspace Downsize and Fire 300 staff
  9. UK watchdog gives the Google Street View cars the green light
  10. Google Earth: 5 More Cities Modelled In 3D

Hit Search Limited, Liverpool Innovation Park, Liverpool Digital, Baird House, Liverpool, Merseyside, L7 9NG. Telephone Number for Search Engine Optimisation, Search Marketing, Pay Per Click and all other enquires is 0845 643 9289.
HOME | PRODUCTS | ROI | SEO | PPC | NEWS | CASE STUDIES | CONTACT | ABOUT US