[bestbits] Accountability group puts Google in same league as big oil and big tobacco
parminder
parminder at itforchange.net
Mon Jul 17 05:44:28 EDT 2017
Thanks James, you are very clear, and indeed I agree.
These are clear and specific requirements of academic and civil society
transparency, which should be upheld by all
Alas though some participating groups asked for the same in the initial
years of this bestbits coalition, in terms of those organisations that
become key steer-ers of this global coalition. The involved major groups
refused to divulge their funding (like as you mention, with an end of
year annual reporting and such), and the people/ groups who had asked
for accountability were kind of pushed off the group. One of them was a
listed founding member of bestbits who asked to be removed from the list
of founders as a consequence of this disagreement. Sorry, I digress here
perhaps. But then just saying that, unfortunately, this civil society
coalition itself does not pass the criterion of "transparency" that you
rightly frame.
parminder
On Monday 17 July 2017 01:40 PM, James Gannon wrote:
>
> Hope I’m interpreting the question right but I would 100% support a
> requirement that where direct funding has been received by a civil
> society actor or an academic to support a campaign or a paper that
> that is disclosed as part of the documentation (Campaign info or in
> the acknowledgements of the paper/research).
>
>
>
> For indirect funding I think that yes similar to a non-profits 990 at
> the end of the fiscal year there should be a reporting of sources of
> indirect funding by both groups also. Topically webfoundations donor
> page is a great example
> http://webfoundation.org/about/funding-partners/
> <http://webfoundation.org/about/funding-partners/>, now an argument
> might be made that that might be a lot of overhead for an academic,
> maybe that is an opportunity for CS is out space to help, a small
> project setup to help academics report on their funding, I certainly
> don’t know of many academics that are looking to actively hide their
> funding, but rather there is no easy or standardised way of reporting
> it leading to situations like we have now.
>
>
>
> If this is not what your were aiming at please feel free to steer me
> in the right direction.
>
>
>
> -James
>
>
>
> *From:*parminder [mailto:parminder at itforchange.net]
> *Sent:* 17 July 2017 05:51
> *To:* James Gannon <james at cyberinvasion.net>; Renata Avila
> <renata.avila at webfoundation.org>
> *Cc:* Renata Aquino Ribeiro <raquino at gmail.com>; Jeremy Malcolm
> <jmalcolm at eff.org>; bestbits at lists.bestbits.net> <
> <bestbits at lists.bestbits.net>
> *Subject:* Re: [bestbits] Accountability group puts Google in same
> league as big oil and big tobacco
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Friday 14 July 2017 01:32 AM, James Gannon wrote:
>
> Agree on the final point for sure and 100% on transparency.
>
>
> Sure, everybody is for 100 % transparency, but then only till we
> actually begin to talk what that means.
>
> So let me ask you, James, what would the 100% transparency be that you
> agree with..... Like civil society groups should disclose their
> funding (unless compelling circumstances which makes is
> counter-productive can be proved)? This is a long history of that
> discussion in the matter of formation and governance of this very
> group bestbits. Maybe you can contribute to it. Look forward to
> hearing your response.
> parminder
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:*Renata Avila [mailto:renata.avila at webfoundation.org]
> *Sent:* 13 July 2017 21:00
> *To:* James Gannon <james at cyberinvasion.net>
> <mailto:james at cyberinvasion.net>
> *Cc:* Renata Aquino Ribeiro <raquino at gmail.com>
> <mailto:raquino at gmail.com>; Jeremy Malcolm <jmalcolm at eff.org>
> <mailto:jmalcolm at eff.org>; bestbits at lists.bestbits.net>
> <mailto:bestbits at lists.bestbits.net>> <
> <bestbits at lists.bestbits.net> <mailto:bestbits at lists.bestbits.net>
> *Subject:* Re: [bestbits] Accountability group puts Google in same
> league as big oil and big tobacco
>
>
>
> I respectfully disagree on your restrictive interpretation of
> ICANN mission.
>
>
>
> I also disagree on relaxing accountability on who funds academic
> research and its impact. On the contrary, I think limiting our
> work to some sort of transparency is insufficient. Strict
> accountability is needed to limit the power of such powerful
> companies (which are involved in broader sectors, like defense,
> health, etc.).
>
>
>
> We need more and better accountability and also make visible how
> big companies (as big Pharma did) are influencing through lobby,
> research and "philanthropy" the public agendas and apply the
> experience from other sector, like public health and the environment.
>
>
>
> Happy to continue the dialogue off list.
>
>
>
> R
>
>
> Renata Avila
>
> *Senior Digital Rights Advisor*
>
> renata.avila at webfoundation.org <mailto: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 9:52 PM, James Gannon
> <james at cyberinvasion.net <mailto:james at cyberinvasion.net>> wrote:
>
> No because the auction funds are also bounded by ICANN mission.
>
>
>
> I think that we should trust academics to be able to conduct
> research in an independent manner, that we need to stop
> looking at the GAFA conspiracy theories and that we shouldn’t
> sully those academics who are working on critical areas of
> research for us by claiming that once they are ever ‘tainted’
> by corporate funding that they should forever have to walk
> around with a a Google/FB/etc disclaimer on every word they
> write or talk they give or opinion they express.
>
>
>
> *From:*Renata Avila [mailto:renata.avila at webfoundation.org
> <mailto:renata.avila at webfoundation.org>]
> *Sent:* 13 July 2017 20:31
>
>
> *To:* James Gannon <james at cyberinvasion.net
> <mailto:james at cyberinvasion.net>>
> *Cc:* Renata Aquino Ribeiro <raquino at gmail.com
> <mailto:raquino at gmail.com>>; Jeremy Malcolm <jmalcolm at eff.org
> <mailto:jmalcolm at eff.org>>; bestbits at lists.bestbits.net
> <mailto:bestbits at lists.bestbits.net>> <
> <bestbits at lists.bestbits.net <mailto:bestbits at lists.bestbits.net>>
> *Subject:* Re: [bestbits] Accountability group puts Google in
> same league as big oil and big tobacco
>
>
>
> Well, there is more:
>
>
>
> The proceeds from New gTLD Program auctions, *which will total
> more than $230 million, are being reserved.* The
> multistakeholder community will develop proposals for how
> these proceeds could be distributed. A community-based
> drafting team is currently working on a charter for a
> Cross-Community Working Group that will create recommendations
> for Board consideration.
>
>
>
> https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2-2016-07-28-en
>
>
>
> My point:
>
>
>
> - Google funds everything, especially advocacy and research in
> poor countries.
>
> - If not google, it is Facebook.
>
> - That harms legitimacy.
>
>
>
> Funds are really scarce for research, advocacy and policy.
>
>
>
> Meanwhile, ICANN = 230 million plus 70 million reserves.
>
>
>
> What if we advocate for those funds to *support public
> interest research*, via a Foundation or similar, instead of
> Google (or other companies) funding research.
>
>
>
> Is it clear now?
>
>
>
> R
>
>
> Renata Avila
>
> *Senior Digital Rights Advisor*
>
> renata.avila at webfoundation.org
> <mailto: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 9:21 PM, James Gannon
> <james at cyberinvasion.net <mailto:james at cyberinvasion.net>> wrote:
>
> The ICANN reserve fund is designed to keep ICANN running
> in the event of financial distress and is not subject to
> any external use outside of ICANN, and even if it was it
> would still be bound by ICANNs mission.
>
> Im not seeing the relationship to the current discussion
> at all.
>
>
>
> -James
>
>
>
> *From:*Renata Avila [mailto:renata.avila at webfoundation.org
> <mailto:renata.avila at webfoundation.org>]
> *Sent:* 13 July 2017 20:19
> *To:* James Gannon <james at cyberinvasion.net
> <mailto:james at cyberinvasion.net>>
> *Cc:* Renata Aquino Ribeiro <raquino at gmail.com
> <mailto:raquino at gmail.com>>; Jeremy Malcolm
> <jmalcolm at eff.org <mailto:jmalcolm at eff.org>>;
> bestbits at lists.bestbits.net
> <mailto:bestbits at lists.bestbits.net>> <
> <bestbits at lists.bestbits.net
> <mailto:bestbits at lists.bestbits.net>>
>
>
> *Subject:* Re: [bestbits] Accountability group puts Google
> in same league as big oil and big tobacco
>
>
>
> 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
> <mailto: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 <mailto: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 at lists.bestbits.net>
> [mailto:bestbits-request at lists.bestbits.net
> <mailto:bestbits-request at lists.bestbits.net>] *On
> Behalf Of *Renata Avila
> *Sent:* 13 July 2017 20:05
> *To:* Renata Aquino Ribeiro <raquino at gmail.com
> <mailto:raquino at gmail.com>>
> *Cc:* Jeremy Malcolm <jmalcolm at eff.org
> <mailto:jmalcolm at eff.org>>;
> bestbits at lists.bestbits.net
> <mailto:bestbits at lists.bestbits.net>> <
> <bestbits at lists.bestbits.net
> <mailto: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
> <mailto: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 <mailto: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 <mailto: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 <mailto: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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