SAN FRANCISCO: Alphabet Inc's Google is trying to plug a surge of public scrutiny around the world by overhauling how its policy office operates, with increased emphasis on having policy staffers and top company executives alike building relationships with governments, people familiar with the matter said this week.

Government officials in the United States, India, Ireland, Singapore, Australia and at least several other countries have threatened regulation or launched probes concerning Google's user privacy practices, its policing of inappropriate videos and apps, and the potential abuse of its dominance in internet search and advertising.