USA Politicians Financed by Google Fight EU Antitrust Case

[glakes]

Google enlisted members of the US congress, whose election campaigns it had funded, to pressure the European Union to drop a €6bn antitrust case which threatens to decimate the US tech firm’s business in Europe.

The coordinated effort by senators and members of the House of Representatives, as well as by a congressional committee, formed part of a sophisticated, multimillion-pound lobbying drive in Brussels, which Google has significantly ramped up as it fends off challenges to its dominance in Europe.

Full Story (including signed US House Judiciary Committee letter): [theguardian.com...]

[engine]

Nothing new in lobbying, but it's good to see the story unfolding. I'm not so keen on political sponsorship as that is open to abuse.

[Marshall]

I'm not so keen on political sponsorship as that is open to abuse.

When is it not.

[superclown2]

I wonder what the difference is between 'lobbying' and bribery?

[Leosghost]

I wonder what the difference is between 'lobbying' and bribery?

Depends on what you have on ( the search history of ) the judge(s)/juror(s)/legislator(s)/politician(s)..

[johnhh]

It appears to me that any "sophisticated, multimillion-pound lobbying drive" is gong to rub the EU up the wrong way. Especially when Google, and other American companies, fail to turn up to meetings when requested to do so.

There is a cultural difference between the EU and the USA one that American companies fail to see.
Perhaps Google's MP in England can help there [uk.linkedin.com ] Luckily he resigned his post just before election.

<aside>Note for american companies advertising in Europe It's not 'the holidays' it's Christmas</aside>

[Marshall]

<aside>Note for american companies advertising in Europe It's not 'the holidays' it's Christmas</aside>

Welcome to Christmas in America.

[fathom]

This is nothing new... The old world seems to be better at it.

REPORT ON 19 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES AND 3 EU INSTITUTIONS SHOWS UNDUE INFLUENCE ON POLITICS ACROSS THE REGION AND IN BRUSSELS
[transparency.org...]

Those just happen to be the same as these sources: EU antitrust case against Google based on 19 complainants: [reuters.com...]

Seems it is being done on both sides.

[toidi]

I wonder what the difference is between 'lobbying' and bribery?

If you are involved, it is lobbying. To the rest of us it is bribery.

[raseone]

Just another little piece of evidence that Google is afraid of what will happen if the facts are agued on their own merrit. Everyone was fine with google when they were just totally dominant but once they became abusive feelings started to change.

[Leosghost]

Not "everyone"..But adsense bought/buys a lot of choristers..
Being a "guru" and "explaining" the Google to marks/clients requires singing from the "google is beneficial to the internet/humanity" song sheet too..

Shamans are not renowned for their public atheism..not when being a shaman can pay so well..

[raseone]

Agreed... Pretty funny how Google thinks they can throw fairy dust in everyone's eyes and call it magic. I can only suggest that the lawmakers need consultancy from some very serious techies.

That's why I go so hard at the appologists. Those of us in a position to know better should not allow the illusion of a legitimate debate to continue.

[EditorialGuy]

There's plenty of lobbying occurring on the European side of the pond, too. (Think Foundem, Microsoft, Oracle, and other members of the "FairSearch" cabal.)

And, of course, there's the political/protectionist aspect of the case.