Oracle puts Google’s weapons in a magic suitcase, Washington listens

Industry Contributor 6 May 2019 -

Oracle puts Google’s weapons in a magic suitcase, Washington listens

By Paul McIntyre - Executive Editor

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Tags: Oracle, Google, Washington, lobbying, data wars, Android, privacy, Facebook, Amazon

Oracle has spent the last 18 months weaponising Google’s own data arsenal against it in a lobbying effort on Washington. The software giant employed a ‘magic suitcase’ stuffed with comms equipment to show congressmen just how much data Google collects from Android phones. It seems to be working (The Information).

Key points:

• Oracle’s demonstration highlights the extent of data flows from Android phones to Google servers – even with sim card removed in case of location tracking

• Presentation has led to Google seniors being questioned by senators

• As privacy debate heats up, Oracle is honing its presentation and showing it to more and more regulators

• It’s one of a number of aggressive tactics Oracle is using to focus lawmakers on privacy and attempt to distance itself from social and search giants

• Google says presentation is inaccurate and misleading

Oracle's magic suitcase of Google tracking techniques is clever lobbying. It has been winning and losing battles against Google and Amazon for years. From 2005-2011 the company posted double digit revenue growth every year bar 2009, the year following the GFC. But growth flatlined for the next five years, as Oracle’s once near-monopoly position was diminished by open source database companies (some spawned within Google and Facebook) and the rise of Amazon Web Services.

Privacy missteps, particularly those made by Facebook, may be more responsible for the current mood in Washington than lobbying by Oracle. But the software giant smells blood and it is stepping up its campaign. Politicians in the UK and the US say the era of self-regulation is over. US senators have introduced “dark patterns” legislation to stop big platforms tricking people into giving personal data and others are mounting presidential candidate campaigns based on breaking up platform monopolies. Oracle will only gain from any legislation that pushes opportunity – and data – in its direction.