LEAKED: Facebook Hired PR Firm to Launch Anti-Google Campaign
- Posted on May 12, 2011 at 12:57pm by
Billy Hallowell
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It didn‘t take long for the finger pointing to begin once word leaked that a competitor was secretly working to damage Google’s image in the public sphere. While Apple and Microsoft were the prime suspects, a more unlikely culprit — Facebook — has now admitted to hiring a PR firm to spread lies and to encourage negative editorial coverage.
Business Insider has more:
For the past few days, a mystery has been unfolding in Silicon Valley. Somebody, it seems, hired Burson-Marsteller, a top public-relations firm, to pitch anti-Google stories to newspapers, urging them to investigate claims that Google was invading people’s privacy. Burson even offered to help an influential blogger write a Google-bashing op-ed, which it promised it could place in outlets like The Washington Post, Politico, and The Huffington Post.
Facebook‘s covert plan imploded when the blogger refused Burson’s offer and, instead, exposed the company’s plans. Word leaked when the blogger posted his e-mails (you can read them here) with John Mercurio (of Byrson-Marsteller). One of Mercurio e-mails reads as follows:
Google, as you know, has a well-known history of infringing on the privacy rights of America’s Internet users. Not a year has gone by since the founding of the company where it has not been the focus of front-page news detailing its zealous approach to gathering information – in many cases private and identifiable information – about online users.
Interestingly, Facebook has had its own set of privacy issues. Back in Oct. 2010, Facebook admitted privacy concerns with its applications. And, let’s not forget the major backlash Facebook faced over its privacy policies in early 2010.
According to Business Insider, Facebook’s anti-Google PR campaign focused on Social Circle, a tool that “…lets people with Gmail accounts see information not only about their friends but also about the friends of their friends, which Google calls ‘secondary connections.’” Burson’s pitch to journalists claimed that Social Circle was:
“…designed to scrape private data and build deeply personal dossiers on millions of users—in a direct and flagrant violation of [Google's] agreement with the FTC.”
The campaign’s public exposure is surely embarrassing. Mashable writes that it’s common for these major new media and technology companies to spar and “throw jabs,“ but that this sort of campaign and subsequent leak is ”…a PR catastrophe of the highest degree.”
Considering Google’s competitive nature and the inroads the company is currently making in the new and social media realm, Facebook may, indeed, have a lot to fear.
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Comments (82)
usa2stay
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:52pmDo you think either Facebook or Google make huge profits using Government “subsidies” or tax breaks? Do you think either of them use large amounts of electricity (energy)? Are they like oil companies? Worst of all, are these companies Capitalistic, taking advantage of the Free Market?
Report Post »gotta light
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:51pmYou can’t trust NoMomma Obama.
You can’t trust Google.
You can’t trust Facebook.
You can’t trust Apple.
You can’t trust Microsoft.
You can’t trust AOL.
MS bought Skype…. Anyone think you can trust Skype?
Wake up America you can’t trust anyone or anything online any longer…
Hell even Glenn says don’t trust me find out for yourself…. Guess what….
I TRUST GLENN!
Hey bud gotta light?
Do you think you can’t trust
Report Post »Non-sequitur
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 3:23pm“Hell even Glenn says don’t trust me”
“I TRUST GLENN!”
You’re not very smart.
Report Post »Zcat
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:49pmZu is just another person who will screw over any and everybody that get’s in his way…including his own mother…jmo
Report Post »wash1776
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:44pmThis is totally disgusting. Facebook should be prosecuted somehow if this is totally true.
Report Post »commonsenseguy
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:51pm@wash1776, i don’t think there is a law prohibiting one company lying about another,heck it happens everyday, just watch the commercials on t v , they lie { stretch the true } about the other ,to gain customers. i would think slander one come to mind, but these two dogs have hundreds of slimy lawyers to ,keep them from being sued,or prosecuted.
Report Post »PrfctlyFrank
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 2:23pmThe overt act of consciously doing harm to another business, using inuendo, falsehoods, destructive allegations, and subterfuge of any type, is libelous at least, and criminal at most.. Google will do something you can be sure and this will cost Zuckerberg big time..
Report Post »nacilbuper
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:40pmNow wait. Obama just visited Facebook. I wonder where this Smear idea came from?
Report Post »commonsenseguy
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:39pma dog eat dog world, and these two dogs are the mangiest, they deserve each other, they are both in bed with the government ,they both give information to the government,to track us,and they also know how much money you spend,where you are right now,and who you voted for,so they can both jump up each others hard drives,
Report Post »windycitywoman
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:57pmAgree! We have a grocery store out here in IL called Jewel and they had a program (like some gas stations as well) where you give them your finger print and link it to your credit card! Needless to say that didn’t go over very well and they have since removed the program. My first thought when they offered me the application was “no way! They will give it to the Government or some other entity!” I’m with you on this one, they get you coming and going in our country, are freedom has been gone for sometime!
Report Post »No Nazis or Commies
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:36pm313 AD to 1520 AD: The Roman Catholic Vatican ruled the world which they called their ‘Holy See.’
Report Post »1534AD: Pope Paul III established the Roman Catholic Jesuit Society ‘Society of Jesus’ aka the ‘IHS’ to have male priests form a secretive group of men to infiltrate and destroy the new Global Protestant Christian/Judeo Alliance movement from within, to regain their Holy See (Vatican Rule.)
1535-1881AD: Roman Catholic Jesuits (IHS) are expelled from over 183 countries for ‘Religious Political Subversion and Economic Manipulation.’ They were able to do so by PRETENDING TO BE RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF OTHER FAITHS
Georgetown & Harvard Roman Catholic Jesuits (IHS) now control the Democrat Party
Georgetown & Harvard Roman Catholic Jesuits (IHS) now control the Republican Party
Georgetown & Harvard Roman Catholic Jesuits (IHS) created the Federal Reserve to control Wealth
*Bill Clinton was trained by Georgetown-Harvard Roman Catholic Jesuit (IHS) Otto Hentz to pretend to be a Protestant Christian (Baptist)
*George Bus(c)h was trained by Georgetown-Harvard Roman Catholic Jesuit (IHS) Senator Prescott ‘Busch’ to pretend to be a Protestant Christian (Baptist) (Note: The German Busch family started the Nazi Party)
*Barrack Obama was trained by Georgetown-Harvard Roman Catholic Jesuit (IHS) Gregory Galluzzo to pretend to be a Protestant Christian (Chicago Evangelical)
*Newt Gingrich was trained by Georgetown-Harvard Roman Catholic Jesuit (IHS) George Barna to pr
OKT
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 5:48pmFYI, Baptists are not Protestants, because they did not emerge from the Catholic Church during the Reformation. New Testament churches may or may not call themselves “Baptist”, but “Independent” and “Fundamental” are used to describe churches which pattern themselves strictly after the example of the early church as found in the New Testament. I presume this would exclude churches that call themselves “Southern Baptist”, of which I know nothing.
Report Post »Bob_R_OathKeeper
Posted on May 13, 2011 at 2:51amFB is a dirty organization, sure most are, they have taken down our Allen West for President sites, so I quit them, they did this while leaving up a site that called Trig Palin the most disgusting names possible, they are in deep with the liberals.
Report Post »Neil
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:27pmI honestly thought Mark Zuckerburg was a more honest business man than this.
Report Post »TerryDo
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 3:10pmHow could you think that Mark was a better businessman than that, when he stole the idea of Facebook, from his university cohorts and then screwed his own business partner? That speaks volumes about his business ethics and social ethics.
He is not worthy of respect from anyone, no matter how filthy rich he has become; all ill-gotten fortune is bound to burn him ever deeper.
Report Post »Neil
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:24pmBut isn’t the whole internet a privacy issue? Facebook, Google, Twitter, and lets not forget all the banks with online capabilities. If someone has a way of saying they are securing your information, is to hard to believe that someone else has the ability to get that information? Or even the people that say they are securing your information could be using it against you.
Report Post »windycitywoman
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:21pmI had always used Google until Glenn said that Soro’s was associated with it, I’m a Yahoo gal now and so is my husband. No more Goggling going in this house ~
Report Post »Susystin
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 2:03pmSorry, but you better do some research. Yahoo is in bed with the regime too. Yahoo, aol, google and FB. Lord only knows who else.
Report Post »Attention2Detail
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 3:31pmYour husband’s a Yahoo gal too? I didn’t know that was legal in the windy city.
Report Post »outpost13
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:16pmFacebook is for people who have no real life.
Report Post »windycitywoman
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:28pmThat’s not true, I use FB to share the gospel and keep in touch with family and friends only! I also use it to keep updated on O‘Reilly’s releases and Glens not to mention other sources that share Biblical insight to today’s events. It depends on what your intensions are, just like anything else in life.
Report Post »American4God
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:15pmBoth Companies are in bed with Obama administration….One covering the others back? Claiming fabricated stories and hit pieces….this doesn’t past the smell test.
Report Post »capitalismrocks
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:14pmGoogle is teetering way too much of gathering far far too much private information on people… I‘ve stopped using google to do searches now as Microsoft’s Bing is giving me just as good results, I am moving my gmail account to a hotmail/live account now and now I’ve read about Googles Chrome OS that is to compete against MS and Apple…
Here’s the catch, its just a Browser OS, nothing more, all of your apps and more importantly all of your DATA will be stored on the web, and if you have no web access? You have no apps and data… I’ll stick with a nice privately owned, locally kept HD… thank you very much!
GOOGLE …. “DON’T BE EVIL“ is now ”DO BE EVIL”
Report Post »jueta
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:10pmDon’t trust any of them. I hate having to have a cell. I believe in capitalism but these and others have destroyed face to face conversations and communication skills for our youngsters, and yes, even for those old enough to know better. I don’t do facebook.
Report Post »jim
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:10pmIronically, Google discovered this PR campaign against it by spying on Facebook employees. No one’s hands are clean on this one.
Report Post »LAM2
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:08pmThese firms are deeply in bed with this administration. Just goes to show how the “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” works once they’ve achieved their mutuals goals and then battle each other for supremacy.
Report Post »JenniferNB
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:07pmOh I now I get it…he met with Obama! More transparancy. Corruption runs rampant..among the left! Lie, steal, cheat, whatever it takes!
Report Post »Sinista MACE
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:07pmThis may be true, but THE CIA/NSA RUNS FACEBOOK AND GOOGLE!
What is this, an attempt to co-opt an anti-big brother invasion of privacy movement?
Report Post »Ebbertron
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:25pmthats it. with all the negative press about Google, Verizon and at&t they needed a smoke screen. so facebook becomes the villian for now, and poor ol’ Google is only trying to make the world a better place….they’re not really collecting information, its all part of a smear campaign.
lull them back to sleep.
Report Post »TheGreyPiper
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:28pmDo you realize that you have about ZERO credibility left? And you never had so dammuch to begin with.
Report Post »Sinista MACE
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 4:43pmPiper, if you have nothing nice to say, you should be silent.
My credibility never was an issue. I don’t have to prove anything to you.
Report Post »chiefparker
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:06pmThose outlets are liberal rags. Does this revelation of a planned smear campaign surprise anybody?
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:06pmLiberals trying to feed on liberals, how good.
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:09pmThat’s a good to way to assess it as any, I guess.
Report Post »Its Gonna Getcha
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:05pmRubbing my hands together. Let the games begin.
Report Post »Micmac
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:04pmThis punk is part of the “MINE” generation – win at any cost and no concern about who gets hurt in the process – sound familar? Think Sub-Prime Loans, Wall Street, etc.
Report Post »chiefparker
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:02pmNo Nazi’s
Report Post »Jd85
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:02pmBeck probably loves this…
Report Post »Micmac
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:00pmanother hypocrite
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:08pmSo, what else is new in the world after all.
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:09pmBut, isn’t Google exactly this? Aren’t they the ones balls-deep into making sure the average internet surfer is subjected to only “filtered” news sources, aka, progressive propaganda???
Wow – I miss when big business are just that. Now big business is run by a plethora of candy-ass progressives.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:11pmFacebook is also limiting CONSERVATIVE speech .. by not allowing sharing and removing comments and USERS who have conservative views.
Report Post »Micmac
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:14pmSnow – you notice they just deleted the post after yours?
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:19pmCesspool goes after slime. I hope they both fail.
Report Post »Ironmaan
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:28pmTo all you Facebook users. Do you think a company that is willing to spread lies (for money) wont sell your private information? Good luck.
Report Post »http://guerillatics.com
J.C. McGlynn
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:31pmIs this a case of one liberal saying another liberal is not liberal enough or is too liberal?
Report Post »commonsenseguy
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:32pm@snow, morning,just wanted to say thanks for all the prays , it is finally raining in my part of Texas,we got a quarter of an inch last night,and to today,we are expected ton get about an inch, so again thanks and we must know forget to thank the lord for blessing all of Texas ,we are in trouble here,but any rain will be a big help,for the farmers.and firefighters, thank you lord for your many blessing,
Report Post »commonsenseguy
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:34pm@snow, by the way how are you doing today,hope a lot better,we will continue to put you in our prayers .
Report Post »JoeBtfsplk
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:39pmMore Soros controlled control!
Report Post »Susan Harkins
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:47pmHey guys,
The real culprit behind the scenes is this corrupt government.
This is the classic over-arching control via “two party division”. The government knows that there are numbers of loyal followers on both sides of the fence, so the govt pits one against the other to make people take sides, when they control both sides.
Sound familiar? Uhm, like maybe the successful ploy of a “two party system”?
Always look behind the curtain, and NEVER and what is being presented on stage.
Report Post »FlatFoot
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 2:47pmNo one in my family uses Facebook or Twitter or MySpace or any of those so-called ‘social networking’ sites. When I recently asked my 17-year old son if he had a Facebook, Twitter, MySpace or any online social network accounts he looked at me like I’m dumb and replied, “No way. I wouldn‘t voluntarily trust people I don’t even know with my personal info. Especially online. Just like you taught me, Dad.”
Report Post »tarbush
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 3:43pmBoth companies will be nationalized and they know it. The heads of each are competing to become Minister of Homeland Intelligence and counter-revolutionary activities.
Report Post »marybethelizabeth
Posted on May 13, 2011 at 10:09amCan I Tell You Something?
Report Post »Mr. Beck has been disparaging Google for months. Time and time again Mr. Beck unthinkly falls prey to such senselessness.
Mr. Beck again has proved he is a tool