"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."
"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. 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."
Navah Hopkins, a Rhode Island small business owner, received an email from Google asking recipients to sign a petition opposing Assembly Bill 566, which would require browsers to allow users to automatically tell websites not to share personal information with third parties. Google framed the bill as harmful to the ability to use online ads to reach customers. The petition was filed by the Connected Commerce Council, a group financially backed by Google, and did not bear Google's name. Google had not publicly opposed the measure, and Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal said he learned of the email push only after a reporter asked. The outreach demonstrates behind-the-scenes influence on California privacy policy.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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