Australia’s media watchdog has hired Google Australia’s government relations lead directly from the tech giant, insisting it can manage any conflicts of interests through established processes as it gears up for a crackdown on platforms.
But the move to hire directly from a regulated entity that has clashed with the government raises questions about regulatory capture and follows a series probity and conflict of interest of scandals elsewhere across the public service.
On Monday, Communication minister Michelle Rowland announced Google Australia’s public policy and government relations lead Samantha Yorke would join Australian Communications and Media Authority as a full time Authority member, along with two others.
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