Google and Yahoo spent a combined $1.36 Million last quarter in lobbying according to the Associated Press, with Yahoo spending $630,000 and Google topping off at $730,000.
Google spent their lobbying funds the following political efforts :
- The agreement to let Google serve advertising on the Yahoo network and regulation of online advertising
- Net neutrality rules that would bar ISP’s from favoring or discriminating against Internet traffic
- Legislation intended to map the availability of high-speed Internet access in the US
- Measures intended to protect children from inappropriate online content and online predators
- Federal auctions of wireless spectrum and proposals that would allow the use of “white spaces”
- Proposals to crack down on spyware computer programs
- Making it illegal for U.S. companies hosting Internet content to give users’ personal information to governments that restrict Internet access
Yahoo’s political lobbying focused on bills which would :
- Crack down on spyware and phishing scams.
- Require registered sex offenders to furnish their e-mail and instant messaging addresses
- Require the U.S. attorney general to have a system that allows social networking Web sites to compare their user lists with the National Sex Offender Registry.
- Make it illegal for U.S. companies hosting Internet content, such as Web pages or e-mail, to give users’ personal information to governments that restrict Internet access.
- Reverse a ruling by the federal Copyright Royalty Board last year that dramatically increased the royalty rates Internet radio stations must pay artists and record labels.
Lobbying is the attempt to influence government bodies, groups and politicians with contributions, donations and other monetary methods. According to OpenSecrets.org, Google has contributed almost as much in the first two quarters of 2008 than they did in all of 2007.
Sources : Forbes & AP
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SEO
