Facebook’s COO Sheryl Sandberg is the industry draw for CDT’s 2010 fundraising event. “Gold” sponsors of the “host committee” include Facebook, Google, Microsoft and AT&T. “Silver” sponsors (and there’s a long list) include Adobe, NCTA, eBay, Verizon, Intel, AOL, Time Warner Cable, News Corp., Visa, Yahoo, Comcast and a bevy of law firms that work on privacy and related issues. They include Manatt Phelps, Wilmer Cutler, Wilson Sonsoni, and Arnold and Porter.
It’s troubling–to say the least–when any consumer/public interest group takes funding from the industry/industries it is supposed to hold accountable. Conflict of interest questions and concerns need to be posed whenever the group takes a position and has funding from parties connected to the issue (think about Facebook and Google’s recent privacy problems, let alone legislation and policies now before Congress and the FTC). It’s great to have extra money. But we suggest groups “just say no” to such special interest relationships.
