Archive | July, 2009
Blog Post
L.A. needs assurances before moving to Google’s ‘cloud’
Posted by John M. Simpson
Frustrated by an out-of-date email system that Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s spokesman Matt Szabo calls "Pac-Man-era technology" the City of Los Angeles is considering entrusting…
News Clipping
Google Is Faulted On Privacy
By Holly Sanders Ware NEW YORK POST
10. July 2009
A group critical of Google’s privacy practices got a jump on the search giant yesterday. Consumer Watchdog, which accuses Google of spying on users, sent out an
alert early yesterday claiming it had obtained a "confidential" and
"proprietary" document that the company had intended for lawmakers.
Blog Post
Google snips ‘confidential’ label from lobbying doc after criticism
Posted by Judy Dugan
9. July 2009
Google probably thought it was being subtle and sly. Just after
Consumer Watchdog obtained and released Google’s new "confidential"
lobbying document, Google posted the same document, stripped of its "confidential" and "proprietary" labels, as an example of its public transparency.
News Clipping
Google Posts Advertising ‘Spin Document’ Online
By Jason Linkins HUFFINGTON POST
9. July 2009
Well, it’s a good nod to almost-transparency, anyway. But just so you remember: Google would have preferred you not see these materials at all! And Consumer Watchdog President Jamie Court remains concerned…
Press Release
Secret Google Presentation Defends Invasive Behavioral Ads
CONTACT: Carmen Balber 202 629-3043 or Jamie Court 310 392-0522 ext.
9. July 2009
Consumer Watchdog Releases Satirical Annotated Version, Says Cyber-Spying Should Raise Lawmaker Alarms Over Internet Giant’s New ‘Net-based Operating System
News Clipping
Consumer Watchdog Takes On Google As Lawmakers Mull Data Privacy Regulation
By Jason Linkins HUFFINGTON POST
8. July 2009
Consumer Watchdog — which, as the name implies is a consumer watchdog organization — is raising alarms over privacy concerns that have been brought to the fore as online search company Google engages in wheeling and dealing before the House Communications and Consumer Protection Subcommittee.
News Clipping
DOJ Launches Formal Investigation Into Google Book Search Settlement
By Clint Boulton eWEEK.COM
3. July 2009
The Department of Justice confirms its investigation into whether Google’s $125 million Book Search settlement violates U.S. antitrust laws. Opponents fear the agreement gives the search engine giant too much power in the digital book world. The fairness hearing is set for Oct. 7, 2009. "The fact that the Justice Department decided to formally notify the
judge in the Google Book Search class action settlement that it is
investigating the deal is an important development," consumer advocate
for Consumer Watchdog John Simpson said in an e-mail to eWEEK.
News Clipping
Justice Probes Antitrust Issues In Google Deal With Publishers
By J. Vascellaro J. Trachtenberg WALL STREET JOURNAL
3. July 2009
Paul Aiken, executive director of the Authors Guild, also predicted
the settlement would "pass muster" because it opens up new markets. But
those concerned about the settlement said they were pleased with the
Justice Department’s letter. "This is now a clear step that they are
taking the matter seriously." said John M. Simpson, an advocate for
Consumer Watchdog, a non-profit consumer group.
News Clipping
Justice Is Probing Google’s Book Deal
By Alex Pham LOS ANGELES TIMES
3. July 2009
The Justice Department on Thursday said it had launched a formal antitrust investigation into the proposed settlement over the Google Inc. project to scan millions of books into a digital format. In recent months, a number of parties have objected to the settlement, including Consumer Watchdog in Santa Monica, the American Library Assn. and the Internet Archive, a nonprofit organization that seeks to digitize public domain books and make them freely available online. Many of the objections involve concerns that Google would create a monopoly on digital books.
Blog Post
DOJ letter shows Google anti-trust probe is serious
Posted by John M. Simpson
2. July 2009
The U.S. Justice Department is serious about probing the Google Books settlement for possible anti-trust violations. Consumer Watchdog was one of the first organizations to ask the department to investigate.
News Clipping
DOJ Officially Opens Investigation Into Google Book Search
By Nancy Gohring PC WORLD
2. July 2009
The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed on Thursday that it is
investigating a settlement involving Google Book Search for possible
antitrust violations, following months of speculation that the agency
had its eye on the service. Consumer Watchdog, a nonprofit group,
argues that the proposal gives Google special protections against
lawsuits over the orphan works. Those special protections would
discourage potential Google competitors from entering the digital book
business unless they could negotiate a similar protection, the group
argues. Consumer Watchdog has urged the DOJ to examine the settlement.
Video Player
Consumer Watchdog’s Carmen Balber discusses Internet privacy and the need for an online “Do Not Track Me” list.
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17. July 2009