I’d say Lohr got it spot-on when he wrote:

Three of the four research groups are in fields where Google could be said to be playing offense: Improvements in machine learning, cellphone data collection and energy efficiency would all help boost the company’s profits.

The fourth area — privacy — has more the look of defense: It is presumably in Google’s interest to promote the development of privacy-handling tools that forestall federal regulations. Four of the 12 research projects are in the field of privacy.

Lohr provides one example of privacy research being funded. The topic … “Will people pay a bit more to purchase goods from Web sites that have tighter practices for handling personal data?”

Groan!!

I’m sorry, Google. Privacy is not something that needs financial justification. It is a right.

Do you not understand that? Or is the lure of additional advertising revenue sufficiently strong that you divert your eyes?