Submitted by “Google contributed $25000 to honor the chairman of the Federal Trade Commission while the company was under investigation by the agency for antitrust violations, Senate records show. Google donated the money to Common Sense Media, a San Francisco-based advocacy group that gave FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz an award for his work in developing policies to help children, according to a January disclosure report.” I’m totally sure this is just a coincidence.
Google is a corporation like many others, the “Do no evil” is only PR.
“Don’t be evil”, from what I’ve read, was about how ads are displayed on the search page (separate from search results, in contrast to some earlier popular engines). It’s never actually used in PR.
I’m not sure how donating to a non-profit could be considered evil, except of course if it is with the intent of bribing someone else. Which may or may not be the case here.
That’s “Don’t be evil”.
I guess there is a difference between “Don’t be evil” and “Be honest”.
On the other hand there were many who questioned the reasons for even starting an investigation. If they didn’t do anything wrong, the fact that they were found innocent is hardly a coincidence.
But if you really want to look into conspiracy theories, try this. How much of a discount did Microsoft provide the FTC with while at the same time being the main company that was complaining about Google. Maybe Microsoft paid to get Google investigated in the first place. There is a conflict of interest on both sides if you look hard enough.
So the moral of this story is for corporations should stop giving to charity.
I mean the more you give the higher the chance that you will give to an NGO that hosts some contest that gives prizes or supports something or someone you’re involved in…
PS: Google contributed to an organization that honoured. Google isn’t even the biggest contributor on the list, nor is one of few.