Inside Google

Press Release

FTC Will Probe Google’s Search Update

CONTACT: John M. Simpson

Google’s latest change to its search engine, dubbed “Search plus Your World” apparently has drawn the scrutiny of the Federal Trade Commission because of antitrust concerns, according to Bloomberg News.

Press Release

Senators Call for Google Antitrust Probe

CONTACT: John M. Simpson

The top Senators on the Judiciary Committee’s Antitrust Subcommittee are expressing concern to the Federal Trade Commission over Google’s business practices and the Internet giant’s impact on competition in Internet search and commerce.

Google’s Sad LA Saga Draws To A Close

John M. Simpson

Google’s sad saga of missed deadlines and unfulfilled promises in attempting to provide the City of Los Angeles with a “cloud” based email and collaboration system appears to be drawing to a close.

Press Release

You can read ‘CQ Researcher’ in-depth report on Google’s dominance

CONTACT: John M. Simpson

The Prestigious CQ Researcher has recently tackled the issue of Google’s dominance, asking the question: “Is the online-search giant too powerful?” See below for information about how you can read the entire online version of this important study. In a half-page opinion piece in the 24-page report, I square off with Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt […]

Google and Facebook lobby expense reports likely to set new records Wednesday

John M. Simpson

Lobbying expenditure reports are due to be filed with the the Senate Office of Public Records Wednesday and you can expect record expenditures from both Facebook and Google.

Ex-Googler Leaves The White House

John M. Simpson

Former Google executive Andrew McLaughlin has resigned as Deputy Chief Technology Officer in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, prompted at least in part, I think, by issues Consumer Watchdog raised.

Press Release

NY Times Asks: Can Google Grow Without Becoming A Monopoly?

CONTACT: Jamie Court

The New York Times editorial questioning Google’s purchase of online flight software company ITA raises questions that could well apply to any new business Google buys unless the Internet Goliath changes its business model.

Add a 4th category of lie: Googlespeak

John M. Simpson

You’ve probably heard the description of ways to mislead people that was attributed to British Prime Minister Benjamin Disreali and popularized in this country by Mark Twain: “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics.” Now we can add a fourth: Googlespeak.

Google’s PAC joins Republican bandwagon

Glenn Simpson

In a move that’s either deeply pragmatic or deeply cynical, Silicon Valley’s most openly pro-Democratic company shifted course this fall and gave more than half its political action committee donations to Republicans. Google Inc. NetPAC gave Republicans $57,500 between July and October, the group’s filing this week with the Federal Election Committee shows. That’s 55% of the $105,000 total contributions; Democrats received $47,500 or 45%.

Press Release

Google ‘definitions’ offer interesting insight into Internet giant

CONTACT: John M. Simpson

Struggling to find the definition for a word? Simply type “define: XXXX”, where XXXX is the word you’re asking about, into Google’s search box. Over at the New Yorker in an article called “Don’t Be Evil,” Simon Rich notes Google’s ability to serve up definitions. Then he has a little fun.