Google gets into politics

SEARCH GIANT Google has launched its public policy blog, giving an insight into the way the Mountain View firm is approaching what it considers to be the "issues fundamental to the future of the Internet". It said it is aiming to create a dialogue to help it "refine and improve [its] policy positions and advocacy strategies".

The blog is headlined by Andrew McLaughlin, who is Director of Public Policy and Government affairs. Current posts expand on Larry and Sergey's views on net neutrality, how YouTube is promoting interaction and democracy, visits to the Googleplex from Presidential candidates and, oddly, nothing on China.

As Google gets bigger and the pots of cash grow, so the firm needs to increase its political influence. As it buys up companies from around the world and integrates them into its machine, its activities are bound to attract the close eye of Washington, and a public policy department is sure to serve as a focus for 'interaction' between Google and the government.

McLaughlin formerly launched and managed ICANN, so he'll have plenty of experience in the intersection of policy, law and government and is currently a Senior Fellow at the Berkman Center at Harvard. He's going to have to work hard to prevent Google going the way of The Vole - with lawsuit, after lawsuit, after lawsuit... µ