I was at the just concluded Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on a panel entitled “The United States of Google: Big Data and Big Government.”
During which Scott Cleland and I examined amongst other things the seemingly endless Crony Socialist ties between all-everything mega-company Google and the Barack Obama Administration.
Google loved Obama back before there was an Obama Administration. Remember how the Obama campaign was hailed for its online prowess – both in 2008 and 2012?
How Obama’s Online Campaign Helped Win the Election
Obama Raised Half a Billion Online
Except it wasn’t Campaign Obama – nearly so much as it was Campaign Google.
On Google, a Political Mystery That’s All Numbers
A Wall Street Journal examination found that the search engine often customizes the results of people who have recently searched for “Obama”—but not those who have recently searched for “Romney.”
Barack Obama Uses Google to Combat Vicious Rumors
Searches for some of the most pervasive Internet rumors often turn up links to his campaign website.
Google Denies Early Ad Deal for Obama Campaign
Did Google Help Obama Win the Election?
It would appear so.
Once elected, the Obama Administration became in many ways the Google Administration.
Just last Thursday the Obama Administration with many of its tentacles uber-power-grabbed the Internet. Which takes $1.2 trillion worth of privately built Web infrastructure – and commandeers it, turning it all into a government utility. And Google is one of the biggest beneficiaries thereof.
Then there are the giant Friends of Obama companies who will benefit tremendously from this – first among them Netflix and Google. These two companies alone consume more than half of all U.S. Web traffic. And the Administration’s grab just outlawed their being charged for it.
Meanwhile, at least seven senior Google officials transmogrified into senior Administration officials.
Including Google CEO Eric Schmidt – who keeps his Google gig while serving as an Advisor on the Administration’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
Including former Google-er Andrew McLaughlin – who joined the Administration as Deputy U.S. Chief Technology Officer. And in recently-revealed-Hillary-Clinton-fashion:
White House Deputy CTO Andrew McLaughlin Slapped for Gmailing with Googlers
Google’s Former Lobbyist in the White House; Still Lobbying for Google
Well that’s helpful. Seems like he too wanted to (surreptitiously) keep his Google gig.
White House Deputy CTO McLaughlin’s Google Buzz Account Deleted After FOIA Request
Well that’s transparent. Was it just him? Of course not.
Another Ex-Googler in Obama Administration Buzz-ted by Google
Now we’ve learned that another ex-Googler working in the Administration, Katie Jacobs Stanton, has been snagged by Google’s lax privacy settings as well. Like McLaughlin, Stanton — the New Media Director at the State Department — had 17 Google employees in her Gmail account exposed in the Buzz privacy flap….
Then there is Michelle Lee. Who was Google’s Head of Patents and Patent Strategy – and has been since November 2012 the Administration’s Acting Director of the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. President Obama has nominated her to get the gig permanently.
What is the Administration’s position on patents?
Obama Calls for Patent Reform in State of the Union
History Will Remember Obama as the Great Slayer of Patent Trolls
Except:
When You Hear ‘Patent Trolls’ – Think ‘People Protecting Their Private Property’
(W)hat exactly is a “patent troll?” He or she is someone who owns a patent – which is private property. And is trying to protect their private property from unauthorized use by someone who doesn’t want to pay to use it.
Is someone who owns a house and calls the police to roust squatters a “property troll?” Is someone who reports their car stolen an “automobile troll?”
How does Google treat patents and patent protection?
Google May Settle Patent-Abuse Charges
European Commission Warns Google on ‘Patent Abuse’
Microsoft Slams Google for ‘Abusing Patents’ Following Legal Win
In fact, Google views just about every bit of “Other Peoples’ Stuff” as little more than “Stuff We Haven’t Yet Taken.”
Stealing from Competitors is “How Google Works”
The Evidence Google’s Systematic Theft is Anti-Competitive
How Google is Filled With Hypocrisy and Will Steal Your Intellectual Property
So thank goodness Google’s former Patent Strategy person – is running this President’s Patent Office.
It certainly bodes well for private property protection – and the innovation it fosters.
Here endeth the sarcasm.
Editor’s Note: This first appeared in Human Events.