Google's top lobbyist Alan Davidson announces resignation

GOOGLE'S TOP LOBBYIST Alan Davidson is resigning from his post, putting an end to a six year stint with the internet search giant.

Davidson was head of Google's Public Policy division in Washington and helped increase Google's lobbying efforts considerably, with Google spending $6m on lobbying this year alone.

Davidson has also been a key figure in expressing Google's policies with regards to privacy, free speech, network neutrality and internet copyright, among other major issues.

"In 2005, I joined Google in Washington to build a first-rate Internet policy group. It's been a remarkable experience -- and a very exciting and intense time -- but I'm ready for a new challenge," said Davidson. "Starting later this month, I will be taking a sabbatical to explore other opportunities."

Davidson is leaving at a time when Google is facing increasing scrutiny by regulatory agencies for alleged anti-competitive actions, including an investigation by the US Federal Trade Commission regarding Google's relationship with handset makers and whether or not it bumps its own web sites to the top of results in its search engine.

Google has not yet named a successor and has no immediate plans to do so, according to Google spokesperson Mistique Cano. There appear to be a number of potential candidates from Davidson's extensive team, including Pablo Chavez, director of Public Policy for Google in the US.

"Alan has done an extraordinary job building the team in D.C. and working on the important policy issues facing the Internet and Google," said David Drummond, chief legal officer at Google, according to the New York Times. "We're grateful for everything he's done and wish him the best." µ