Officially, the online search giant Google’s mission is to “organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.” According to two new reports—one from the Wall Street Journal and one from the nonprofit, nonpartisan Campaign for Accountability’s Google Transparency Project, the company doesn’t just organize. When Google wishes it had information that’d maybe help further its policy and regulatory goals, it just pays academics under the table to gin it up.

Company pays stipends of $5,000 to $400,000 for research supporting business practices that face regulatory scrutiny; a ‘wish list’ of topics.

Campaign for Accountability released a new report, Google Academics Inc., revealing Google’s extensive financial support for academics and policy experts. CfA identified 329 research papers published between 2005 and 2017 on public policy matters of interest to Google that were in some way funded by the company.

"Renewable energy companies seek to convey an image of not just cleaner energy, but also cleaner politics. EPI, however, embraces the same campaign-style tactics that green energy companies purport to oppose," writes our Executive Director Daniel Stevens in an op-ed to the Washington Examiner.

Campaign for Accountability's new report unmasks the Energy and Policy Institute (EPI) – an organization that describes itself as both a watchdog and a think tank – as the apparent project of a public relations firm.

On March 29, 2017, CfA asked Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum to open an investigation into companies that offer residential solar panels in Oregon.  A review of consumer complaints filed with the Oregon Attorney General’s Office reveals many of these companies have engaged in false and misleading acts in the marketing and sale or lease of solar panels, in apparent violation of Oregon law.

On January 18, 2017, CfA asked Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to open an investigation into companies that offer residential solar panels in Florida.  A review of consumer complaints filed with the Florida Attorney General’s Office reveals many of these companies have engaged in false and misleading acts in the marketing and sale or lease of solar panels, in apparent violation of Florida law.

On January 6, 2017, CfA called on the Department of Justice and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to investigate OneWest bank for using potentially illegal tactics to foreclose on as many as 80,000 California homes.  Mr. Mnuchin, whom President-elect Trump has nominated for Secretary of the Department of the Treasury, previously served as the CEO of OneWest.

On November 28, 2016, CfA released a new report detailing Google's support for Hillary Clinton. Google executives and employees bet heavily on a Clinton victory, hoping to extend the company’s influence on the Obama White House.

On November 23, 2016, CfA asked the Obama administration to publicly release information regarding security for Trump Organization properties around the world.