Archive | May, 2011
News Clipping
Online Privacy Bill Fails To Pass
By Patrick McGreevy , LOS ANGELES TIMES
The measure is supported by groups including the California State Sheriffs’ Assn., Child Abuse Prevention Council and Consumer Watchdog. Some advocates contend that parents should have the legal authority to order websites to delete online information that puts their children at risk.
Blog Post
Google claims it doesn’t understand what Do Not Track means
Posted by John M. Simpson
23. May 2011
I’ve just seen what has to be the lamest excuse ever to come out of the Googleplex. Apparently Google hasn’t implemented a Do Not Track mechanism on its Chrome browser, because, according to one of the Internet Giant’s top privacy lawyers, Keith Enright, the geeks in Mountain View “need more granularity and a more reasonable [...]
News Clipping
Growing Privacy Scrutiny of Mobile Could Lead to Legislation This Year
By Chantal Tode , MOBILEMARKETER.COM
23. May 2011
“The message for mobile companies is that they’ve got to get up-to-speed with privacy best practices and act responsibly,” said John M. Simpson, Washington-based director of nonprofit Consumer Watchdog’s privacy project. “If they don’t, there is going to be really strong regulation really quickly,” he said.
News Clipping
Google Says It Is Combating Illegal Ads
By Staff Writers , UPI (United Press International)
20. May 2011
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., May 20 (UPI) — U.S. technology giant Google Inc. said it is taking a proactive stance against illegal advertising, the subject of a U.S. Justice Department probe. “Google has a natural long-term financial incentive to make sure that the advertisements we serve are trustworthy,” said company spokeswoman Diana Adair, The Washington Post [...]
Blog Post
Senate “tussle” is good for privacy
Posted by John M. Simpson
19. May 2011
There can’t be anything better than having legislators compete to answer popular demand for better privacy protection. Hauling tech executives in and asking them to explain themselves never hurts. Twice in two weeks is even better.
News Clipping
FCC Announces a Public Forum on Smartphone Location Tracking Systems
By Byron Acohido , USA TODAY
19. May 2011
John Simpson, spokesman for Consumer Watchdog, notes that the FCC is continuing an investigation into Google’s past practice of sending fleets of specially equipped vehicles criss-crossing city streets in 30-plus nations to take photos for its mapping service — and to collect data from Wi-Fi systems in homes and businesses.
News Clipping
Is Google Profiting From Illegal Ads?
By Jia Lynn Yang , THE WASHINGTON POST
19. May 2011
The nonprofit group Consumer Watchdog released a report this year tracking ads on Google’s site that preyed on consumers looking for mortgage modifications. The report called Google “a prominent beneficiary of the national home loan and foreclosure crisis of the past two years.”
Blog Post
Sen. Blumenthal demands answers on Wi-Fi privacy
Posted by John M. Simpson
18. May 2011
The forty-state probe by attorneys general slowed after then Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal was elected to the U.S. Senate, but he clearly hasn’t dropped his concerns. In a letter this week to the chief executives of Microsoft, Google, Apple, Research in Motion, Skyhook Wireless and Nokia, Blumenthal writes that widespread use of smartphones “raises [...]
Blog Post
Google got away with Wi-Spy, why can’t I?
Posted by Carmen Balber
18. May 2011
The Senate Commerce committee has called Google and other technology execs to testify tomorrow on mobile privacy. What Google was collecting with its street view cars has every relevance to what they’re doing now, and I hope Senators finally grill them on the topic under oath. (More questions Google should have to answer here.)
News Clipping
Jamie Court: Browser Beater
By Tibby Rothman , LA WEEKLY
18. May 2011
Consumer Watchdog has dogged Google since 2008 on a number of issues. Particularly galling to Court is Google’s massive collection of Internet users’ information obtained through unencrypted Wi-Fi networks, which he says is a violation of wiretapping laws.
News Clipping
Google Deflects PR Firm’s Attack of Gmail Privacy
By Byron Acohido and Jon Swartz, USA TODAY
10. May 2011
“Much of Google’s privacy problems stem from the company’s culture,” says John Simpson, spokesman for the non-profit Consumer Watchdog. “They hire like-minded engineers who push the creepy line, then apologize when they get caught with their fingers in the cookie jar.”
News Clipping
Consumer Groups Welcome ‘Do Not Track’ Privacy Push
By Staff Writers , AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE
10. May 2011
Jamie Court of Consumer Watchdog noted that Mozilla, Microsoft and Apple are incorporating a mechanism into their Web browsers to send a “Do Not Track” message but there is currently no legal requirement that a website honor the request.
Blog Post
Do-Not-Track-Online One Step Closer To Being National Right
Posted by Jamie Court
9. May 2011
A poll by Consumer Watchdog found that 90 percent of Americans want legislation to protect their online privacy, and 80 percent support a Do Not Track mechanism. Another 86 percent want a single-click button on their browsers that makes them anonymous when they search online.
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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28. May 2011