[bestbits] Accountability group puts Google in same league as big oil and big tobacco

Thu Jul 13 15:18:38 EDT 2017

Its reserve fund.

It could be modified, any time, to support broader areas...

Figures in USD (millions)  Page 9.

Link:
https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/fy17-unaudited-financials-31mar17-en.pdf

R.

Renata Avila

*Senior Digital Rights Advisor*
renata.avila at webfoundation.org

*1110 Vermont Ave NW, Suite 500, Washington DC 20005, USA* *| *
*www.webfoundation.org* <http://www.webfoundation.org/>* | Twitter:
@webfoundation*

On Thu, Jul 13, 2017 at 9:09 PM, James Gannon <james at cyberinvasion.net>
wrote:

> Can you elaborate on this piece? What ICANN money, ICANN does some very
> limited funding of research but doesn’t fund anything in the area of
> advocacy, and there is very little research that is within ICANNs mission
> anyway.
>
>
>
> -J
>
>
>
> *From:* bestbits-request at lists.bestbits.net [mailto:bestbits-request@
> lists.bestbits.net] *On Behalf Of *Renata Avila
> *Sent:* 13 July 2017 20:05
> *To:* Renata Aquino Ribeiro <raquino at gmail.com>
> *Cc:* Jeremy Malcolm <jmalcolm at eff.org>; bestbits at lists.bestbits.net&gt
> &lt <bestbits at lists.bestbits.net>
> *Subject:* Re: [bestbits] Accountability group puts Google in same league
> as big oil and big tobacco
>
>
>
> I second Renata.
>
>
>
> Our research and advocacy space is suffering from a funding problem and it
> is harming its credibility. It will be great to have a larger pool of funds
> supporting our efforts, which are becoming more mainstream and relevant for
> the next 50 years (especially for developing countries). The production of
> research is extremely concentrated and, as austerity is rampant all over
> the World, State funding to research is shrinking by the day even for
> developed countries at the same pace as tax evasion (or elusion) (Google is
> not guilt free in this area http://fortune.com/2016/
> 03/11/apple-google-taxes-eu/)
>
>
>
> And in small countries, priorities of both governments and private sector
> to support research support traditional areas, such as health or education.
> Certainly, local funds are not supporting local advocacy efforts for
> privacy, net neutrality, etc.
>
>
>
> I think the problem is deeper and I think that, in order to continue our
> work and efforts with impartiality and credibility, we need a coordinated
> effort to get a diverse pool of donors and ways towards sustainability. I
> think the comparisons of Big Oil funding Greenpeace, when we talk about
> giants like Facebook or Google, is valid now.
>
>
>
> What about all the ICANN money? Will it be enough to fund all global and
> local advocacy and at least part of the relevant research? A global fund?
> Crowdfunding for advocacy and more pressure on governments for research?
>
>
>
> R
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Renata Avila
>
> *Senior Digital Rights Advisor*
>
> renata.avila at webfoundation.org
>
> *1110 Vermont Ave NW, Suite 500, Washington DC 20005, USA* *| *
> *www.webfoundation.org* <http://www.webfoundation.org/>* | Twitter:
> @webfoundation*
>
>
>
> On Thu, Jul 13, 2017 at 8:20 PM, Renata Aquino Ribeiro <raquino at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> Yes it does.
>
> Unless they are transparent about it and clear about it not interfering
> with their research ethics.
>
>
>
> In the public education system in developing countries it is quite common
> to see funding being misused. Researchers who get money from international
> organizations, even some national ones, using public universities to
> advance an agenda. And yes, this can be sometimes an astroturfing exercise.
>
>
>
> Which is why access and production of knowledge needs to be always
> transparent and public.
>
>
>
> Unfortunately most of internet policy has not waken up to this yet. I
> wonder if it ever will.
>
>
>
> Em 13/07/2017 15:09, "Jeremy Malcolm" <jmalcolm at eff.org> escreveu:
>
> But here's an article putting the other side of the story:
>
> http://www.chronicle.com/article/Scholars-Cry-Foul-at-Their/240635
>
> We place Google Policy Fellows at EFF, too.  Does that mean that whatever
> work they do for the rest of their careers is tainted by the few thousand
> they received to support their living expenses as an EFF fellow?
>
> On 13/7/17 3:21 am, parminder wrote:
>
> Google has spent millions funding academic research in the US and Europe
> <https://www.theguardian.com/world/europe-news> to try to influence
> public opinion and policymakers, a watchdog has claimed.
>
> Over the last decade, Google has funded research papers that appear to
> support the technology company’s business interests and defend against
> regulatory challenges such as antitrust and anti-piracy, the US-based
> Campaign for Accountability (CfA) said in a report
> <https://campaignforaccountability.org/new-report-reveals-googles-extensive-financial-support-for-academia/>
> .
>
> “Google uses its immense wealth and power to attempt to influence
> policymakers at every level,” said Daniel Stevens, CfA executive director.
>
> ................
>
> Academics were directly funded by Google in more than half of the cases
> and in the rest of the cases funded indirectly by groups or institutions
> supported by Google, the CfA said. Authors, who were paid between $5,000
> and $400,000 (£3,900-£310,000) by Google, did not disclose the source of
> their funding in 66% of all cases, and in 26% of those cases directly
> funded by Google, according to the report.
>
> ...........
>
> “Whenever Google’s bad behaviour is exposed, it invariably points the
> finger at someone else,” said Stevens. “Instead of deflecting blame, Google
> should address its record of academic astroturfing, which puts it in the
> same league as big oil and big tobacco
> <https://www.theguardian.com/world/series/tobacco-a-deadly-business>.”
>
> https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jul/13/google-
> millions-academic-research-influence-opinion
>
> As we know Google has recently been fined $ 2.7 billion for
> anti-competitive practices by the EU regulator, which only means that in
> all countries that are too weak to take on google (or benefit from its
> profits, meaning the US) Google remains in violation of competition (and
> many other) laws..... All this Google funded research and advocacy, of dont
> regulate the Internet (read, Internet companies), are playing a dangerous
> game, seriously compromising public interest.
>
> It is time we declare the honeymoon of civil society and academic love for
> digital global corporations over. They are today like big oil companies --
> no doubt the latter provide what is still the main energy resource that
> keeps our societies ticking but in the bargain they very often, and
> systemically, indulge in stuff that needs academics and NGOs to be watching
> against. It is pretty difficult to undertake such watching while taking
> considerable money from them. It is a simple truism, but the digital sector
> tends to ignore it.
>
> parminder
>
>
>
>
>
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>
>
> --
>
> Jeremy Malcolm
>
> Senior Global Policy Analyst
>
> Electronic Frontier Foundation
>
> https://eff.org
>
> jmalcolm at eff.org
>
>
>
> Tel: 415.436.9333 ext 161
>
>
>
> :: Defending Your Rights in the Digital World ::
>
>
>
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>
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