Google loads up on lobbyists before antitrust hearing

INTERNET SEARCH GIANT Google is loading up on lobbyists as it moves towards a US Senate hearing about how much of a search giant it actually is.

Having just heard last week that European regulators are planning their own antitrust investigation, as well as one prompted by Microsoft, Google's executive chairman Eric Schmidt is surrounding himself with yes men, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The Journal reports that the firm has hired at least thirteen lobbying and communications firms in the run up to the antitrust hearing, including businesses run by men with experience in the US Congress, former House Democratic leader Richard Gephardt and the son of Indiana Republican Senator Richard Lugar.

Google is already making use of the communications firms, which the WSJ said it started signing agreements with in May, and is running adverts that show how politically important it is, in terms of job creation and helping small businesses.

One advert is remarkably well targeted it seems, and could appeal to the chairman of the Senate antitrust committee. Democratic Senator Herb Kohl, who comes from Wisconsin, is expected to favour this little number: "Michael's [Green Bay Packers merchandise] store is in Menomonee Falls, Wis., but he uses Google AdWords to reach Cheeseheads around the U.S.," according to the WSJ.

Schmidt will take centre stage at the hearings, according to the report, unlike other company witnesses that have been lambasted by them publicly and to their face. Standing alone might shield the Google executive from some strong criticism and allow him to remain composed, it is suggested.

Witnesses set to appear include someone from the travel firm Expedia and a representative from business listings site Yelp. Both have argued that Google is listing its own services over theirs, which has been a suggestion made about Google before. µ