The Googlization of the Far Right: Why is Google Funding Grover Norquist, Heritage Action and ALEC?

[Snarkoleptic]

If privacy concerns were't enough, here are several more reasons to avoid Google.

http://www.prwatch.org/news/2013/11/12319/google-funding-grover-norquist-heritage-action-alec-and-more

Organizations that received “substantial” funding from Google for the first time over the past year include Grover Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform, the Federalist Society, the American Conservative Union (best known for its CPAC conference), and the political arm of the Heritage Foundation that led the charge to shut down the government over the Affordable Care Act: Heritage Action.

In 2013, Google also funded the corporate lobby group, the American Legislative Exchange Council, although that group is not listed as receiving “substantial” funding in the list published by Google.

--snip--

New "Substantial" Right-Wing Google Grants in Past Year

CMD examined the information released by Google for the years 2010 to 2013. The voluntary disclosures indicate that the following groups are either new grantees of Google since September 2012, or have been listed as having received a “substantial” Google grant for the first time:

American Conservative Union
Americans for Tax Reform
CATO Institute
Federalist Society
George Mason University Law School Law and Economics Center
Heritage Action
Mercatus Center
National Taxpayers Union
R Street Institute
Texas Public Policy Foundation

--snip--

Google also recently sponsored a gala fundraiser in Washington DC for the Federalist Society, a network of right-wing judges and lawyers that includes Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito, John Roberts, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas. Justice Thomas was the guest of honor at that event, for which Google was listed as a top-tier “gold” sponsor. Google names the Federalist Society on its list of groups receiving its most substantial grants in 2013.

[Shivering Jemmy]

1. What were the grants for?

Usually grants are tied to a particular project.

[Snarkoleptic]

5. While not stated in the linked article, I suspect it's something like-

"To promote the furtherance of Plutocracy and Corporatocracy"

[octoberlib]

2. This is probably why.

Bloomberg reported in May 2013 that in France alone Google is in the midst of a dispute over more than $1 billion in unpaid taxes that have been alleged. An August 2013 report by U.S. PIRG – “Offshore Shell Games” -- found that Google is now holding more than $33 billion dollars offshore, avoiding taxes on these earnings in the United States.

[SammyWinstonJack]

3. Nice.

[Snarkoleptic]

4. Perhaps it's time for them to change their "Don't be evil" motto to

"Don't be outwardly evil but do rotten shit behind the scenes when nobody is looking"

[Berlum]

6. Googlians, Inc. (R) gots a wicked case of Republicon "Family Values"

[Snarkoleptic]

7. Many are drawn-in by the cute Google doodles, but are risking their privacy.

I use "The Worlds Most Private Search Engine."
startpage.com

Here's a snip from their privacy page-

Every time you use a regular search engine, your search data is recorded. Major search engines capture your IP address and use tracking cookies to make a record of your search terms, the time of your visit, and the links you choose - then they store that information in a giant database.

Those searches reveal a shocking amount of personal information about you, such as your interests, family circumstances, political leanings, medical conditions, and more. This information is modern-day gold for marketers, government officials, black-hat hackers and criminals - all of whom would love to get their hands on your private search data.

[Laelth]

8. Boo! Shame on Google. n/t

-Laelth

[Enthusiast]

9. Where are the Google competitors?

Why can't someone else become the equal of Google?

[Snarkoleptic]

10. If you use a free online service, you and your personal info are probably the product.

The more people hear about gmail snooping through their e-mail and targeting ads, the more people will get freaked out.

startpage.com has a great record on privacy issues in the US market.
ixquick.com is their sister site in Europe.

Both have e-mail services as well, but there is a fee.

[Agnosticsherbet]

11. Because money looks after itself

and those with money looks out for their money.

[okaawhatever]

12. People need to be incredibly scared about this. I believe all these contributions are to help Google

keep it's right to invade your privacy while putting on a front to stop the government from doing it.

Google is evil. I was going to post a comment on Salon yesterday and now the only options are Google and Facebook for a log in, unless you have an old log in and password, but the feature is no longer offered.
We should all be concerned about their collection of political comments and their other activities. I'll bet all kinds of money Google ends up selling data mined info to the right wing next election.