[governance] More... Google: "Internet Freedom!"... (to do whatever it pleases and serves its business interests?

[michael gurstein]

http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/google-encourages-users-to-join
-campaign-against-copyright-draft-law-a-870590.htm

 

It is a new type of lobbying power when Google now endeavors to enlist its
users in the struggle to defend its own business interests. In the language
of the Internet, one could also say that the company is trying to
crowdsource its own lobbying efforts. This is a widespread method in the US,
where it's known as grassroots lobbying.

 

In doing so, the company is relying on a trick that Germany's Pirate Party
has also used to achieve many of its successes: It merely brands a proposal
that it's targeting as a threat to the free, open and uncensored Internet.
The tactic behind this move is obvious. Recently in the US and on a European
Union level, a number of bills have failed due to resistance from online
campaigns. With its current campaign, Google is seeking to use this to its
own benefit -- and is openly playing on politicians' widespread fear of a
shitstorm.

 

Legal but Risky Business

 

The vehemence with which Google is pursuing its campaigns is astonishing
because it entails considerable risks for the company. The discrepancy
between Google's lofty words and its agenda is far too evident: Of course
the company is not primarily interested in the freedom of Internet users,
but rather in defending its own freedom against any government regulation of
its monopoly-like power over the market and public opinion. This raises the
question of whether such an approach does more harm than good to its own
interests.

 

Well worth reading the whole article.

 

M

 

-----Original Message-----

From: michael gurstein [ <mailto:gurstein at gmail.com>
mailto:gurstein at gmail.com] 

Sent: Monday, December 03, 2012 2:52 AM

To: 'ciresearchers at vancouvercommunity.net';
<mailto:cracin-canada at vancouvercommunity.net>
cracin-canada at vancouvercommunity.net

Subject: FW: Hmmmm... Google: "Internet Freedom!"... (from taxes?

 

 
<http://delimiter.com.au/2012/11/23/australian-govt-pledges-action-on-google
-tax-avoidance/>
http://delimiter.com.au/2012/11/23/australian-govt-pledges-action-on-google-
tax-avoidance/

[MG>]  <http://tinyurl.com/d9fhmhx> http://tinyurl.com/d9fhmhx

 

 
<http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/news/15431664/france-says-google-would
-lose-court-case-over-taxes/>
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/news/15431664/france-says-google-would-
lose-court-case-over-taxes/

[MG>]  <http://tinyurl.com/c43nfs8> http://tinyurl.com/c43nfs8

 

 <http://en.apa.az/news_google_italy_suspected_of_tax_evasion__183392.html>
http://en.apa.az/news_google_italy_suspected_of_tax_evasion__183392.html

[MG>]  <http://tinyurl.com/cc4ayk2> http://tinyurl.com/cc4ayk2

 

 
<http://www.3news.co.nz/Starbucks-Google-Amazon-accused-of-UK-tax-evasion/ta
bid/369/articleID/276457/Default.aspx>
http://www.3news.co.nz/Starbucks-Google-Amazon-accused-of-UK-tax-evasion/tab
id/369/articleID/276457/Default.aspx

[MG>]  <http://tinyurl.com/dylfaxy> http://tinyurl.com/dylfaxy

 

 
<http://tech.slashdot.org/story/12/11/23/0156212/australian-govt-pledges-act
ion-on-google-tax-evasion>
http://tech.slashdot.org/story/12/11/23/0156212/australian-govt-pledges-acti
on-on-google-tax-evasion

 

 
<http://gurstein.wordpress.com/2012/10/11/the-ituwcit-thinking-about-interne
t-regulatory-policy-from-an-ldc-perspective/>
http://gurstein.wordpress.com/2012/10/11/the-ituwcit-thinking-about-internet
-regulatory-policy-from-an-ldc-perspective/

[MG>]  <http://tinyurl.com/8cw6tux> http://tinyurl.com/8cw6tux

 

 <http://tinyurl.com/choul5g> http://tinyurl.com/choul5g

 

 

 

 

 

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