Western Reader
Concerns about the influence of Big Tech on media and elections have been growing, with Google being at the forefront of this issue. An article from The Washington Examiner sheds light on the worrisome ties between Google, the Democratic Party, and the media, raising concerns about journalistic integrity and democratic processes.
The controversy unfolded around the California Journalism Preservation Act, originally designed to aid local journalism through collective negotiations with tech giants like Google and Meta. However, Google’s strong lobbying led to a different outcome. A new agreement surfaced, where Google and Meta pledged $55 million each over five years to the University of California, Berkeley, which would then disburse the funds to local news outlets, especially those in underprivileged areas.
The Democratic Party’s Google cartel https://t.co/tP1Bs1rEm9
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) August 26, 2024
Though this may seem charitable, critics argue that it effectively converts these grants into a fund controlled by left-leaning academics to support media outlets aligning with Democratic ideals. This not only undermines the original goal of promoting independent journalism but also solidifies Big Tech and the Democratic Party’s grip on the media.
The deal received praise from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who sees it as a means to revitalize the press in the state. However, Republicans and media watchdogs view this as an alarming consolidation of power that could turn the media into a mouthpiece for Democratic interests. This pact, as noted by The Washington Examiner, signifies a “cartel” that further erodes the already declining autonomy of American journalism.
The Democratic Party’s Google Cartel
Archive – https://t.co/9OotgyFsmU
“In other words, leftist professors at a leftist university[University of California, Berkeley] would sluice the money to leftist organizations that support the Democratic Party… “https://t.co/G9IPpxGJVe
— Earl Jackson (@earljackson1776) August 26, 2024
Google’s involvement in elections has also sparked concerns. Reports reveal Google’s interference in at least 41 U.S. elections since 2008, often censoring conservative voices and promoting liberal candidates. For instance, during the 2016 presidential race, Google was accused of biasing search results in favor of Hillary Clinton, potentially swaying millions of votes. This behavior persists, with Google wielding influence over election outcomes, typically favoring Democratic contenders.
The repercussions are significant. Google’s dominance in digital ads and search manipulation grants it unprecedented power to shape public opinion and impact elections. A federal court’s ruling on Google’s antitrust violations in the search market underscores worries that its dominance not only harms competition but also democracy.
The alignment between Big Tech and the Democratic Party goes beyond convenience; it represents a joint effort to control information flow in the U.S. As California Republicans are unlikely to dismantle this potent “Google-Meta-Democratic Party cartel,” there is a pressing need for conservatives to advocate for federal legislation like the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act to restore media balance.
As the 2024 elections near, the influence of Big Tech on democracy cannot be underestimated. The ongoing collaboration between Google and the Democratic Party serves as a stark warning about the perils of media concentration in a few hands and the necessity for robust legal frameworks to safeguard American democracy.
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