Do search engines have politics? Well, no, but big Internet companies such as Google certainly do care about public policy — as it relates both to the company and its customers. So it is interesting but not altogether surprising that Google today took the wraps off its new Google Public Policy Blog. In an introductory post, Andrew McLaughlin, Google’s director of public policy and government affairs, says the company works on public policy issues involving privacy, child online safety, copyright and trademark protection, content regulation, patent reform and broadband policy. The blog, he says, fits into that:

“We’re seeking to do public policy advocacy in a Googley way. Yes, we’re a multinational corporation that argues for our positions before officials, legislators, and opinion leaders. At the same time, we want our users to be part of the effort, to know what we’re saying and why, and to help us refine and improve our policy positions and advocacy strategies. With input and ideas from our users, we’ll surely do a better job of fighting for our common interests.”

Posts so far include videos of visits to Google by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and presidential candidates John Edwards and John McCain, as well as a statement of the company’s stance on “net neutrality.”

Photo of Bob Ambrogi Bob Ambrogi

Bob is a lawyer, veteran legal journalist, and award-winning blogger and podcaster. In 2011, he was named to the inaugural Fastcase 50, honoring “the law’s smartest, most courageous innovators, techies, visionaries and leaders.” Earlier in his career, he was editor-in-chief of several legal publications, including The National Law Journal, and editorial director of ALM’s Litigation Services Division.