Google accepts government officials' "descent" and sends employees to the government to increase political influence

ByCharles Haynes

Through the work of the "Google Transparency Project", Google invited people who were in high-ranking officials such as former government officials to the company while conversely sending employees and former employees to governments and the EU, It has become clear that the influence is increasing.

Google's Revolving Door (US) | Google Transparency Project
http://googletransparencyproject.org/articles/googles-revolving-door-us

Google's European Revolving Door | Google Transparency Project
http://googletransparencyproject.org/articles/googles-european-revolving-door

Google: new concerns raised about political influence by senior 'revolving door' jobs | Technology | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jun/04/google-influence-hiring-government-officials


In the case of the United States, since 2005, the number of people who entered Google from government-related organizations was 197, while on the other hand it was 61 people who entered the government from Google and its affiliated organizations, a total of 258 people were confirmed It is.


Of these, 53 were movements between Google and the White House, 22 former White House officials joined Google and 31 Google officers joined the White House and the Federal Advisory Committee. Other organizations such as Department of Defense, Information Authority, Department of State, Federal Communications Commission etc were named.

Likewise, in Europe since 2005, Google has joined at least 65 former government officials, including Tomas Gulbinas, a Lithuanian unqualified ambassador to the European Parliament and Georgios Mavros of the European Parliament, France, and conversely, Google Managing Director Baroness Joanna · Mr. Shields became the British Internet minister, 15 people are entering the government and others.


Former CEO Eric Schmidt, Google Chairman and President, was invited to the dinner party on the technology used for diplomatic purposes with the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton under the Obama administration, informal visits to North Korea and a delegation to Iraq Also participate. In addition, British Cameron administration has been selected as a member of the Business Advisory Committee.

In response to this move, UK Labor Party Margaret Hodge said that Google is one of the "business models" to influence politics. Especially, although Google dominates 90% in on-line search, it is pointed out that activities are active because it is not as successful as in the United States in Europe.

It was in 2011 that Google accepted this kind of "Tenkari" in earnest. Below is a graph on the case in the United States with the left end in 2006 and the right end in 2016, but until 2010 it is less than 10 people, but in 2011 it has increased to more than 20 people. It is the same in Europe, and one that was one digit till 2010 is jumped to 18 people in 2011. This year is just after the European Commission began investigating antitrust regulation law.


On the other hand, there is no regularity in the number of people entering the government from Google. This is also a graph of cases in the United States, but in 2006 and 2008 0 people, the number is few in 2012, from which there are more people.


By the way, if only this data, simply "Google is gathering talented people" "Because the talent that Google uses is excellent, you can ask the government later." However, Mr. Jared Cohen, who joined Schmidt and Secretary of State Clinton, changed from Government Policy Advisor to Google's think tank representative, using his office connectionGoogle suggested to Secretary Clinton that he would help the subversion of Assad regimeIt is certain that Google is politically making effective use of these people.