Google under scrutiny over lobbying influence on Congress and White House

Concerns grow after disclosure Google enlisted US politicians to pressure EU brought attention to tech giant's close relationship with Washington politicians

Google has made political donations to 162 members of the US Congress in the latest election cycle, figures show, as concerns grow over the internet giant's lobbying influence in Washington.

On Thursday the Guardian revealed that Google enlisted American politicians whose election campaigns it had funded to pressure the European Union in a carefully coordinated campaign to drop a a6bn ($6.5bn) antitrust case that threatens its business in Europe.