News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Google on track to outspend banks, big tobacco in lobbying by ArabGeek on Monday April 23, 2012 @06:16PM (#3881256)
can anyone tell us if any of google's lobbying prevented the web from being less free and censored? do they support CISPA which is using cyber security as an excuse to stifle free speech on facebook twitter and others?
Re:Google on track to outspend banks, big tobacco in lobbying by Karunamon on Monday April 23, 2012 @06:23PM (#3881283)
Nobody knows yet - they haven't taken a public stance on CISPA.

http://thenextweb.com/insider/2012/04/23/google-admits-to-lo...

Personally I'd be shocked if they supported it..

Re:Google on track to outspend banks, big tobacco in lobbying by itg on Monday April 23, 2012 @06:47PM (#3881379)
They definitely have an incentive to keep everything free and open which allows for more data collection and more ads.

I wonder if any of the lobbying has an impact on online privacy.

Re:Google on track to outspend banks, big tobacco in lobbying by Suraj-Sun on Monday April 23, 2012 @06:51PM (#3881399)
This ZDNet article claims that, "Google helped with CISPA, joins Cybersecurity Theatre," and "CISPA’s author Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI) has bragged that Google had, in fact, quietly worked with the bill’s authors behind the scenes."

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/violetblue/google-helped-with-cisp...

Re:Google on track to outspend banks, big tobacco in lobbying by Karunamon on Monday April 23, 2012 @09:00PM (#3881890)
The source of the ZDNet article is a bit less sensational sounding:

http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/221977-g...

  >"They've been helpful and supportive of trying to find the right language in the bill," Rogers said, adding that Google wants to protect consumers' privacy and prevent regulation of the Internet.
It makes sense that they'd try to get in during the drafting phase instead of being on the outside looking in, ala SOPA.
Re:Google on track to outspend banks, big tobacco in lobbying by blazingice on Monday April 23, 2012 @06:49PM (#3881391)
The article claims that $4M (80%) of this money was spent lobbying against SOPA and PIPA, which I would qualify as protecting freedom on the web.
Re:Google on track to outspend banks, big tobacco in lobbying by cynthiaherald on Monday April 23, 2012 @06:21PM (#3881275)
It will definitely be interesting to monitor how Google will continue outspending on lobbying....for good and bad of internet, free speech, etc