Comments on: Report: Google public policy head to join Obama

Andrew McLaughlin, Google's director of global public policy, is reportedly leaving the search giant to be the deputy chief technology officer for the Obama administration.

[InklingBooks]

"McLaughlin oversaw Google's interests regarding governments around the world, for example, devoting ample time in 2006 to managing pressure over Google's policies in China."

Be more clear. McLaughlin openly excused Google's role in helping the Chinese government learn how to use search engines to censor political speech. Given that background, don't expect the Obama administration to display much interest in free speech in the more repressive regimes of the world: China, Saudi Arabia and the like. In the Middle East Obama resembles former president Carter. He likes the repressive regimes, even bowing deeply to the Saudi king, and dislikes democratic Israel.

Or here for that matter. Obama's political appointees in the Justice Department just overrode seasoned department lawyers and blocked prosecution of Black Panthers for some very nasty voting intimidation during the 2008 election that was caught on video. (Think of the Klan in the 1920s, but dressed in black quasi-military outfits rather than white robes.) What next--IRS audits for those on an enemies list? Break-ins and wiretaps at Republican headquarters?

I wonder if Andrew McLaughlin also played a role in the international disaster that the Google settlement is rapidly shaping up to be, particularly in Europe. In a high-level meeting on Thursday, the EU formally announced an investigation of the settlement as a violation of European copyright laws. Led by Germany, Britain, France and the Netherlands are already taking action and friends in Europe tell me Sweden will soon be involved. Google's greed is turning it into a global pirana.

The European reaction is hardly surprising. The average high school student can read Google's FAQ sheet about the settlement and the Berne copyright convention, which we have signed, and see that the two cannot be reconciled. You'd think a graduate of Harvard Law like McLaughlin could do as well.

[todd3617]

Oh boy, another Obama goon.

[bgstrong]

This is certainly a black mark for Google .

[queticomn]

Oh great, the former head of Google's director of global public policy the biggest spyware company on the planet to me on the technology team for Obama. Were doomed.