Archive | March, 2011
News Clipping
Eric Schmidt Closing In On Top Commerce Job?
By Hayley Tsukayama , WASHINGTON POST - POST TECH BLOG
Consumer Watchdog, well-known for its opposition of Google — and Schmidt in particular — issued a release Thursday in opposition to a possible appointment. The group also sent a letter to Obama asking him not to nominate Schmidt for the position. “Putting Eric Schmidt in charge of policing online privacy is like appointing Bernie Madoff to direct the Securities Exchange Commission,” the release said.
News Clipping
Consumer Group: Google CEO Not Good For Commerce Post
By Gautham Nagesh , HILLICON VALLEY BLOG (THEHILL.COM)
17. March 2011
Frequent Google critic Consumer Watchdog sent a letter to the White House on Thursday blasting reports that outgoing Google chief executive Eric Schmidt is being considered to replace Commerce Secretary Gary Locke.
Press Release
Consumer Watchdog To President Obama: Tapping Google CEO For Commerce Secretary, Obama’s Voice On Privacy, Is Like Appointing Madoff To Head SEC
CONTACT: Jamie Court , 310-392-0075; John M. Simpson: 310-392-7041; Carmen Balber: 202-629-3043
17. March 2011
Washington, DC — Consumer Watchdog warned President Obama in a letter today about the dire consequences for consumers worldwide of appointing Google CEO Eric Schmidt Commerce Secretary.
Blog Post
Cause For Concern About Washington’s Privacy Drive
Posted by John M. Simpson
16. March 2011
The Obama Administration threw its weight behind privacy legislation Wednesday as Assistant Commerce Secretary Lawrence Strickling testified before the Senate Commerce Committee about online privacy. Clearly Washington is focusing on privacy issues, but will meaningful consumer protections be enacted? There is cause for concern.
Blog Post
Google Feels Heat On Shady Ads
Posted by John M. Simpson
16. March 2011
It took a lawsuit from Rosetta Stone, the language software company, and a Congressional hearing, but Google apparently has finally been embarrassed into taking responsibility for policing some shady ads on its search engine site.
Press Release
Consumer Groups Warn Obama Privacy Law Could Be Dominated By Industry
CONTACT: John M. Simpson , 310-392-7041; or cell: 310-292-1902
16. March 2011
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A “multi-stakeholder process” to develop online privacy codes advocated today by the Obama Administration runs the risk of being dominated by industry and failing to protect consumers if it is not organized in a fair and balanced manner, six public interest groups warned. The groups include Consumer Watchdog, The Center for Digital Democracy, Consumer Federation of America, Consumer Action, U.S. PIRG and the World Privacy Forum.
Blog Post
Google Faces More Washington Scrutiny
Posted by John M. Simpson
11. March 2011
The Senate Antitrust Subcommittee plan to examine Google’s activities for possible antitrust violations, is the latest indication that the Internet giant’s behavior is drawing increasingly skeptical — and well deserved — scrutiny in the nation’s capital.
News Clipping
Google’s Tarnished Chrome
By David Hatch , NATIONAL JOURNAL
11. March 2011
Consumer Watchdog asked House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., to examine Google’s close ties with the Obama administration. It also wants a broader Justice Department investigation of Google along the lines of the years-long antitrust probe of Microsoft, which culminated in a 2002 settlement with the government.
News Clipping
Do Not Track Our Online Data
By admin Op-Ed By Representative Jackie Speier, POLITICO.COM
4. March 2011
The do not track concept is supported across all demographic lines — including political persuasions. According to Consumer Watchdog, 86 percent of Americans want a “Do Not Track” button created. In addition, 70 percent of Facebook members and 52 percent of Google users say they are either “somewhat” or “very concerned about their privacy, according to a recent a recent USA Today poll.
Blog Post
Will Google Maps Camera-Equipped Tricycles Take Pictures Of Our Kids Playground?
Posted by Jamie Court
2. March 2011
Google’s grand experiment in photographing the world’s places for Google Maps has taken its “street view” cameras off-road with new hi-tech tricycles equipped with 360 degree view cameras to photograph the back roads, parks, college paths and inner sanctums of our world. The engineer’s latest design raises the question: What will Google be capturing on its back-road tour that people don’t want seen?
News Clipping
Google Street View Goes Off Road With Tricycle To Capture More Images
By Jessica Guynn , LOS ANGELES TIMES TECHNOLOGY BLOG
1. March 2011
Consumer Watchdog spokesman John Simpson said: “Google continues to push the envelope as far as it can and increasingly intrudes in our lives without asking permission. How long will it be before the Internet giant deploys teams with handheld cameras to photograph places where the trikes can’t go?”
Press Release
‘Doodle 4 Google’ Gaffe Suggests Company Did Not Live Up To Privacy Commitments Made To End Wi-Spy Probe Consumer Watchdog Tells FTC
CONTACT: John M. Simpson , 310-392-7041; and Carmen Balber, 202-629-3043
1. March 2011
WASHINGTON, DC — Google’s latest privacy breach, gathering children’s social security information on a contest entry form, suggests that the Internet giant did not live up to commitments that prompted the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection to end its inquiry into the Wi-Spy incident, Consumer Watchdog said today.
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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18. March 2011
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