[Npoc-discuss] NGO/Civil Society Policy Analysis: Google

[Sam Lanfranco]

NPOC Communications Chair Olévié KOUAMI posted links to information 
about the re-organization of Google. Given the physical size of Google 
in the Internet ecosystem I, as Chair of the NPOC Policy Committee, 
would like to offer a brief analytical comment as to the 
(/non/)importance of this organizational restructuring by Google 
founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin as far as the NGO and Civil Society 
communities are concerned.

The new corporation, Alphabet, is a holding company encompassing the 
various ventures undertaken by Page and Brin with Google funding. They 
include Google, aero-space, health care devices, etc. Alphabet is 
basically an organizational structure to: (a) allow each venture to 
operate with its own independent, but accountable, management structure; 
and (b) capture the benefits of favorable tax laws.

What does this mean for the mission of NGO and Civil Society 
constituencies? Basically nothing. Where there may be impacts from 
activities such as user data mining, nothing has changed. If and when 
there are changes they will occur in and by Google itself, and not 
Alphabet.

Sam Lanfranco, Chair, NPOC Policy Committee

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