"The tech giant sent a message to an email list that Hopkins and other small business owners were subscribed to. Google's request: To sign a petition opposing Assembly Bill 566, which would require browsers to provide users with a way to automatically tell websites not to share their personal information with third parties. The measure is sponsored by the California Privacy Protection Agency, which enforces state regulations on such sharing."
"The outreach was particularly noteworthy because Google had not itself taken a public position on the bill. The tech giant was so quiet about its opposition that Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, the author of AB 566, did not know about Google's email push until a CalMatters reporter asked. Lowenthal also said his office did not receive small business owners' signatures or outreach."
In April, Google emailed small business owners asking them to sign a petition opposing California Assembly Bill 566, which would let browsers automatically tell websites not to share user data with third parties. The message warned the bill would harm businesses' ability to use online ads to reach customers. The petition was filed under the Connected Commerce Council, a group financially backed by Google, and did not bear Google's name. Google did not publicly state a position and state lawmakers said they were unaware of the outreach. The campaign reflects efforts by Google to protect its online advertising market by quietly mobilizing small businesses.
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