How major Internet players follow their users and utilize their activity became the focus of a letter of inquiry sent by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce to a number of companies.
Google and Yahoo Small Fries In Lobbying
When it comes to lobbying Congress, Google and Yahoo are relative lightweights compared to other companies. Both companies combined spent about $1.3 million last quarter–$730,000 from Google and $630,000 from Yahoo. Microsoft nearly doubled them, and Verizon, as a single company, has spent three times as much as all three.What issues were Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo lobbying legislators for?
Mama Mia: Italian Firm Sues YouTube & Google
Copyright infringement accusations emerged from Italy as a TV company called Mediaset lobbed a 500 million euros lawsuit at Google.
Google Street View Given Nod In UK
Any people wanting to explore Britain from the comfort of their office chairs are in luck; the Information Commissioner’s Office has concluded that Google Street View doesn’t create any real privacy problems.
Google May Get Into Venture Capital
Google’s current market cap is a little over $151 billion, and so long as Jerry Yang’s not involved, that means the search giant can buy just about anything it wants. But there’s word that Google may take a more subtle approach to growth by creating a venture capital unit.
Google Scoffs At Complete Privacy
Google’s Street View photography of a Pennsylvania residence drew a lawsuit from the owners, but Google dismissed the plaintiff’s opinion as being out of touch with the real world.
Google Search Rides From The Custom Shop
Google plans to start placing links to more details on how they have customized a given set of search results for visitors, in the name of demonstrating why they chose those results.
Google’s Favoritism Makes Knoll SEO Magnet
Author and search optimization expert Aaron Wall headed to Google’s Knol, as did many SEO professionals, to create a page. He doesn’t sound happy about what he found.
Google News Introduces More Filters
Major news organizations like Reuters, the Associated Press, and the AFP are great sources of information; there’s no denying that. Other people and entities have a lot to offer, too, though, and Google News is now making it easier to access these alternatives.
BBC Editor Going To Google’s PR Department
Don’t be surprised if Google starts to get a lot of positive press overseas. A man who’s something of a media expert – for four years, he served as editor of the BBC show Newsnight – will be joining the search giant as its head of communications and public affairs for the UK, Ireland, and Benelux regions.