Several months ago, Consumer Watchdog asked Google to "cease a rumored lobbying effort aimed at allowing the sale of electronic medical records." Google responded by calling the claim totally false. Now, Consumer Watchdog’s come back with evidence that Google lobbied for something health-related, and the group’s demanded an explanation.
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?
Google Is Lobbying To Offer Free National Wifi
Free, nationwide WiFi. Drooling yet, or do I need to say it again? Free, nationwide WiFi from Google. As we mentioned earlier, Google is lobbying the FCC for some of the wireless spectrum that will be freed next year when television will cease analog transmission. Google’s plan? “Wi-Fi on steroids.” (Without the ‘roid rage, I’m guessing.)
Microsoft Lobbying For Data Privacy Laws
A growing concern of today’s average citizen is the security of their data. With so many consumers making purchases online, as well as search engines looking to become more personalized by tracking a user’s web history and search trends, ensuring user privacy and protection is becoming increasingly important to a fast growing segment of the population.