Alphabet Google Goes to College
November 30, 2015
I read “Google’s Insidious Shadow Lobbying: How the Internet Giant Is Bankrolling Friendly Academics—and Skirting Federal Investigations.” The write up seems to take a somewhat negative view of alleged Google activities. The clue? The word “insidious.” Put that in your sentiment analysis system, gentle reader.
I learned:
Google’s actions between 2011 and 2013 show how they dodge legal bullets: by molding elite opinion, using the support of experts and academics as a firewall against criticism. The donations to George Mason and professors at other universities reveal that Google purchases that privilege. It’s just one way Google uses its war chest to influence policymakers: they spent $5.47 million on official lobbying in the first quarter of 2015 alone, and spends more money on lobbying than any public company. But the academic funding machine may be even more insidious, a stealth form of lobbying wrapped in the guise of “independent” research. Google has not responded to multiple requests for comment at the time of publication.
Interesting. How does this differ from the funding by commercial enterprises of other activities. You know. There are programs at Ivy League schools with supporters. There are buildings at some universities with the names of folks who represent some interesting outfits.
Give the Alphabet Google thing a break. Salaries at most universities for the hard working researchers do not cover the payments on a Toyota Prius.
From my point of view, I believe almost everything academics write and the contents of commercial online databases charging money for articles for which the hard working researchers have paid to get “published.” I am confident that research results are indeed reproducible. Academics do good work.
Want more data? Just run queries on the GOOG. Precision, recall, and objectivity in abundance.
Stephen E Arnold, November 30, 2015
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