{"id":6514,"date":"2011-06-13T21:15:55","date_gmt":"2011-06-14T01:15:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rbachnet.wwwmi3-ss40.a2hosted.com\/index.php\/"},"modified":"2022-08-19T19:02:48","modified_gmt":"2022-08-19T23:02:48","slug":"regulatory-capture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/index.php\/regulatory-capture\/","title":{"rendered":"Tech Regulatory Capture"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Tech<\/a>Regulatory capture<\/strong> occurs when governmental bodies<\/strong> created to act in the public interest instead advances the commercial or special interests that dominate the industry<\/strong> or sector it is charged with regulating<\/strong>. Regulatory capture is a form of government failure<\/strong>, as it can encourage large firms to exploit the public<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Former Sen. Chris Dodd Named MPAA Chief<\/a><\/h3>\n

\"Former<\/a>Christopher Dodd<\/a>, the former five-term Democratic senator from Connecticut is the head of the Motion Picture Association of America<\/a>. He sat on the Foreign Relations Committee, headed the\u00a0Banking Committee, and co-authored the Dodd-Frank\u00a0Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act<\/a>. Among other things, he attempted to filibuster the legislation<\/a> that immunized telecom companies from lawsuits over the Bush administration\u2019s warrantless wiretapping program.<\/p>\n

As head of the MPAA, he\u2019s likely to be a little less friendly to the average netizen. The MPAA has lobbied hard for the controversial Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It has pushed for the government to shutter websites suspected of hosting infringing material and is responsible for using the American legal system to sue U.S.-based torrent search engines<\/a> out of existence. A case against Canadian-based Isohunt<\/a> is pending.<\/p>\n

Facebook Adds Friends in Washington<\/a><\/h3>\n

\"Facebook<\/a>Democrat Sheryl Sandberg<\/a>, the former Clinton administration official is a chief operating officer for Facebook<\/a>. Ms. Sandberg, is the company\u2019s No. 2 official behind co-founder and chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Republican Ted Ullyot<\/a>, a former clerk for Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia<\/a> is the social networker’s general counsel. Mr. Ullyot, was a White House lawyer and chief of staff for Alberto Gonzales when he was attorney general in the George W. Bush administration. Facebook\u00a0 told the Los Angeles Times<\/em> that Mr. Ullyot \u201chas extremely strong connections with the Republican Party, and we think that\u2019s a good thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Facebook Adds to Its Public Policy Staff<\/a><\/h3>\n

\"Facebook<\/a>Facebook increased its Republican credentials by adding Catherine Martin<\/a>, who is the site\u2019s first director of public policy. Previously, Ms. Martin worked for President George W. Bush<\/a>, serving as deputy assistant to the president and deputy communications director for policy and planning.<\/p>\n

Facebook May Hire Former Obama Aide<\/a><\/h3>\n

\"Facebook<\/a>Facebook is in talks to hire Robert Gibbs<\/a>, President Obama\u2019s<\/a> former White House press secretary, for a senior role in helping to manage the company\u2019s communications, people briefed on the negotiations told<\/a> the New York Times<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Mr. Gibbs, who left the White House in February after two years on the job, had planned to help set up President Obama\u2019s re-election campaign before taking a private-sector job, these people said. A job for Mr. Gibbs at Facebook could be worth millions of dollars. While details of his potential compensation package have yet to be discussed, people briefed on the talks said that he would receive a cash salary as well as shares ahead of the initial offering. Some investors have valued Facebook at more than $60 billion and could be the largest offering in history. Mr. Gibbs and a spokesman for Facebook declined to comment.<\/p>\n

Facebook Woos Washington<\/a><\/h3>\n

\"Facebook<\/a><\/em>The Daily Beast<\/em><\/a> points out<\/a> that Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg\u2019s company has 600 million members, making it about twice as big as the United States. The Daily Beast<\/em> says that Facebook needs to get as cozy as it can with the U.S. Government and Barack Obama. This company is gathering more personal information about more people than any other company ever, even more than Google. Suddenly it is dawning on everyone, including members of Congress, just how much power Facebook is amassing.<\/p>\n

Co to counter the trend Facebook has hired two more former government officials.<\/p>\n