"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."
"In its email to Hopkins, Google claimed that the legislation would "hurt your ability to use online ads to reach customers." "It was intentionally misleading people that by this bill passing, they were going to lose out on all of these tools within Google (to advertise)," she told CalMatters. The outreach was particularly noteworthy because Google had not itself taken a public position on the bill."
In April, Rhode Island resident Navah Hopkins received an email from Google asking for help opposing California Assembly Bill 566. The bill would require browsers to give users a way to automatically tell websites not to share personal information with third parties. Google's email urged recipients to sign a petition, warning the measure would "hurt your ability to use online ads to reach customers." The petition carried the name of the Connected Commerce Council, which Google funds, rather than Google itself. Google had not publicly opposed the bill, and the bill's author said he learned of the outreach only after being asked by a reporter. Last year Google successfully blocked a similar bill that was vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Read at AP News
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