Google's tentacles stretch into the EU as well as the US Google can provide a lucrative career option for EU policy advisors, with the UK hosting the busiest revolving door, according to new research. The US-based Campaign for Accountability has identified at least 16 Googlers joining the taxpayer’s payroll, with 64 advisors taking the more lucrative path the other way by joining …
I'm not sure I'm too keen on the revolving door, (does business experience easily or usefully transfer, what about propriety, governance and accountability)
However I wonder how these figures compare (absolutely, by number of staff, turnover) with, e.g., law firms, accountancy firms, management consultants, <name your hated sector here> or even IBM and Microsoft.
Without this information it could just look a bit anti-Google
Of course, to a certain extent one is free to be "anti-anything".
But if one were just venting one's spleen about a particular organisation (e.g., there is a long history of some FOSS-types foaming at the mouth at the mere mention of particular companies/practices) it would be more honest and quicker to write "I hate X, they're shit" (or whatever)
But if the article (as I assume) is about revolving doors then if all other companies are doing it then any one company would be stupid not to follow suit. The open question is whether Google are disproportionately engaged in revolving door practices.
"The government was criticised for striking a voluntary tax deal with Google earlier this year, which effectively shut down HMRC's attempts to retrieve back taxes over 11 years"
The other thing that shut down the tax clawback was the law. Let's not mention that bit.
Seriously, Google are a company that specialise in optimising data algorithms - versus tax laws so buggy that the Government itself needs an AI-like 'expert system' to try and parse and resolve its internal inconsistencies.
Google could have made a total mockery out of it like Amazon and Starbucks do. Hell, Google do actual R&D so the Government could have ended up paying *them*.
"Three years ago the then-Copyright Minister, Viscount Younger of Leckie, admitted Google had greater access to the Prime Minister than he did. “"I've also very aware that they have got access, for whatever reason, at higher levels than me at No. 10,” he told MPs."
That's probably a relative of 'Pip the younger' I guess.
I think my sides might split!
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