Google continues to up the ante on the money it spends each quarter on Washington lobbying.
The search giant spent a record $5.03 million (PDF) last quarter, according to the company's lobbying report. That figure compares with $3.76 million spent in the fourth quarter and just $1.48 million in 2011's first quarter.
Among the lobbying issues grabbing Google's attention were the regulation of online advertising, privacy and competition issues in online advertising, openness and competition in online services, and International tax reform.
The search giant devoted lobby dollars to HR 1389 - Global Online Freedom Act of 2011, a Congressional bill designed to prevent U.S. companies from cooperating with repressive foreign governments in using the Internet for censorship and surveillance. Google has of course squared off in the past with China over the censorship of its search results.
The company lobbied for H.Con.Res. 114, a bill "expressing the sense of Congress that the United States should preserve, enhance, and increase access to an open, global Internet."
Through its first-quarter lobbying dollars, Google weighed in on SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and CISPA (Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act), two proposed bills that triggered huge controversy.
Original report :
Original report :
