Google: Priming Itself for Government Smackdowns October 07, 2010, by Peter Mirus in Other
Google continues to make news (and associated commentary). Many are concerned about the vast amount of user-related data collected by Google, what Google does with the data, and how it plans to use that data to manipulate user behavior and interests. Will the comments made by Google CEO Eric Schmidt increase the groundswell of demand for regulation?
In the last few months Eric Schmidt, the gaffe-prone CEO of Google, has made public statements that make us question whether the company's slogan still is "Don't be evil." In interview after interview, Schmidt has made tactless comments on especially sensitive and controversial topics such as online privacy and net neutrality.
As CEO, one of Schmidt's largest roles is to act as a spokesperson for the company, but that ironically seems to be his Achilles' heel. Here are some of his more recent faux pas.
1. "The average American doesn't realize how much of the laws are written by lobbyists." Schmidt made this remark last week. While he expressed shock at how Washington works, he neglected to mention that Google spent $1.34 million last quarter on lobbyists--an increase of 41% year-over-year--and as much as $2.72 million in the first half of 2010. If lobbyists are writing the laws, then Google is certainly dropping enough dough to make sure it's controlling the pen.