Inside Google

Google Buzz ‘Breaks Privacy Laws’

Maggie Shiels

A leading privacy group has urged US regulators to investigate Google’s
new social networking service Buzz, one week after its launch.

The Consumer Watchdog, an advocacy group, said it was not surprised by this stumble. "This case illustrates a lot about Google’s corporate culture where a
company is run by computer scientists whose operating method is don’t
ask for permission when you can always ask for forgiveness," said the
organisation’s John Simpson.

Google’s privacy debacle displays firm’s true colors

John M. Simpson

Google’s launch of its social network  "Buzz" and the ensuing outcry from consumers over they way it trampled on their privacy rights says a lot about the Internet giant’s…

Google updates Buzz social-networking service amid privacy concerns

Jessica Guynn

The Internet giant has tweaked the sign-up process to make the
opt-out option clearer and made it easier to block people from
following users.

"Google shows continued tone deafness to the very important privacy
rights of consumers," John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog said.

Press Release

Next Chapter In Digital Book Deal: Google vs. DOJ

CONTACT: Michael Liedtke

Google seems to want Judge Chin to be the man making the decision, said John
Simpson of Consumer Watchdog, one of the opponents scheduled to speak
in court next week. "Google has decided it’s longer willing to negotiate with Justice on
this one," Simpson said. "They want to negotiate with the judge
instead."

Privacy controls on Google’s Buzz are backwards

John M. Simpson

Google turned its new "Buzz" social networking function on in my Gmail account today and I spent some time checking it out. Conclusion: it’s got the privacy controls backwards.

While…

Google’s Buzz will give Internet giant even more data

John M. Simpson

Google launched its much anticipated social networking service, Buzz, today aimed a competing with sites like Facebook and Twitter….

Press Release

AdMob May Win Big Even As Privacy Debate Rages

CONTACT: James Temple

It’s these highly personalized capabilities that raise the hackles of
privacy advocates, however. They raise a host of questions about "how
the data is used and manipulated without the consumer understanding,"
said John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog. Those concerns are only
heightened by the proposed acquisition by Google, which he said could
bore deeper into personal information by coupling its rich user
databases with AdMob’s.

Google search ad, what dat?

John M. Simpson

Super Bowl XLIV wasn’t only a first for the New Orleans Saints, it was also a landmark for Internet giant, Google.  The company actually bought an ad, one that ironically reveals exactly the privacy issues raised by the company that consumers should worry about.

Press Release

Justice Department Objects to Revised Google Books Settlement

CONTACT: Wire Reports

The Department of Justice filed a statement of interest February 4 saying that that despite “substantial progress”  it still had objections to the proposed settlement of lawsuits challenging Google’s Book Search project, noting that the agreement continued to raise copyright, antitrust, and class certification issues. Consumer Watchdog, which had filed a brief opposing the settlement, praised the Justice Department’s stance. “The Department of Justice should
be commended for standing firm in opposing this private deal that
unfairly benefits the narrow agenda of one company,” said John M.
Simpson, a consumer advocate with the nonprofit group. “The DOJ filing
and the outpouring of other briefs from around the world opposing the
amended settlement, such as the one filed by Consumer Watchdog, make it
almost certain Judge Denny Chin will reject the deal.”

Press Release

US DoJ Dissatisfied With Google Book Deal

CONTACT: Chris Nuttall

San Francisco, CA — The US Department of Justice on Thursday said it was still not satisfied with an agreement on digitising books made between Google, authors and publishers, despite “substantial progress” on amendments to the settlement. Consumer Watchdog, the consumer group, welcomed the DoJ’s objections to the deal. “Google offered only minimal amendments to its original flawed deal and
the key problems remain,” said John Simpson, a spokesman. “The DoJ filing and the outpouring of other briefs from around the
world opposing the amended settlement make it almost certain [Judge
Chin] will reject the deal.”