Facing increasing congressional scrutiny, Google Inc. has hired a lobbying
firm that includes the son of U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill.
The Mountain View Internet giant hired Joshua Hastert as part of a team of
lobbyists from the firm PodestaMattoon to champion its interests in privacy,
compensation and China, among other issues, according to documents filed with
the U.S. Senate.
The hiring is another sign that Google is raising its profile in
Washington, where legislation is pending or is being considered that could
significantly affect the company’s business.
Recently, members of Congress excoriated Google for introducing a search
engine in China that censors results deemed subversive by Beijing. Lawmakers
have introduced a bill that requires Internet companies to locate search
engines outside of repressive nations and create a basic code of conduct for
the industry.
….As Google increases its list of outside lobbyists, it is adding internal
staff to handle public policy. Last year, it hired Alan Davidson, former
associate director for Washington advocacy group Center for Democracy &
Technology, as its Washington policy counsel. Also last year, Elliot Schrage
joined Google as vice president of global communications and public affairs,
and oversees public policy.
Yan Sham-Shackleton Online 