"The ask came from Google, maker of the world's most used web browser, Chrome. 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 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."
Google sent an email to small business owners asking them to sign a petition opposing California Assembly Bill 566. The bill would require browsers to provide a way for users to automatically tell websites not to share personal information with third parties. The outreach warned that the measure would hurt businesses' ability to use online ads to reach customers. Google did not publicly state a position and remained quiet enough that the bill's author learned of the campaign only when asked by a reporter. The petition was issued by the Connected Commerce Council, which Google funds, illustrating covert lobbying to influence privacy policy.
Read at KPBS Public Media
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