Archive | February, 2012
Press Release
Consumer Watchdog Calls California ‘Apps’ Privacy Agreement A Step Forward, But Says Do Not Track Legislation Is Necessary To Protect Consumers
CONTACT: John M. Simpson , 310-392-7041
SANTA MONICA, CA – California Attorney General Kamala Harris’ agreement announced today committing the leading operators of mobile application platforms to require privacy policies for applications (“apps”) is a step forward, Consumer Watchdog said, but in addition “Do Not Track” regulations must be implemented to fully protect consumers.
News Clipping
Consumer Group Files FTC Complaint Against Google
By Elinor Mills , CNET.COM
22. February 2012
The complaint — similar to complaints brought by the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), the World Privacy Forum and Consumer Watchdog — alleges that Google is misleading users about the “real reasons” for the privacy policy change, which are due to take effect March 1. In addition, the planned policy changes violate the FTC-Google consent decree by failing to get user consent before sharing information.
Press Release
Consumer Watchdog Praises State Attorneys General Action Against Google
CONTACT: John M. Simpson , 310-392-7041
22. February 2012
SANTA MONICA, CA — Consumer Watchdog today praised state attorneys general for voicing their concerns about Google’s changes in privacy polices and asking for a meeting with the Internet giant’s CEO Larry Page. Attorneys general from 35 other states and territories joined Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler in sending the letter. They gave Google a week to reply.
News Clipping
White House Pushes for New Privacy Codes of Conduct
By Grant Gross , PCWORLD.COM
22. February 2012
Privacy group Consumer Watchdog praised the White House privacy announcement, although the group had not seen the proposals as of Wednesday evening. “From what I understand to be in it, the report may represent real progress,” said John Simpson, privacy project director for the group. “Enforceable codes of conduct could matter. Baseline privacy legislation could make a difference.”
News Clipping
Google Bypassed Apple Privacy Settings: Researcher
By Staff Writers , AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE
18. February 2012
“Google has clearly engaged in ‘unfair and deceptive’ practices,” said Consumer Watchdog privacy project director John Simpson, Consumer Watchdog’s Privacy Project director. “They have been lying about how people can protect their privacy in their instructions about how to opt out of receiving targeted advertising.”
News Clipping
Privacy Brouhaha Reveals Google’s Split Personality
By Staff Writers , CNET.COM
18. February 2012
An FTC spokesman said the agency had received the Consumer Watchdog complaint but said he could not comment further. “We are taking immediate steps to address concerns and we are happy to answer any questions regulators and others may have,” Google said in a statement when asked to comment.
News Clipping
How Google Gets Inside Browsers
By James Temple , THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
18. February 2012
The group Consumer Watchdog and some lawmakers asked publicly whether Google had violated last year’s settlement agreement with the Federal Trade Commission over an unrelated privacy breach. Some tech watchers said that while the company’s actions are certainly questionable, the full extent of the breach probably exceeded what Google had intended to do, as Google itself maintains.
News Clipping
Lawmakers Target Google’s Tracking
By Jennifer Valentino-Devries , THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
18. February 2012
“Google falsely told Safari users that they could control the collection of data…when in fact Google was circumventing the preference,” wrote John Simpson, the privacy-project director with the advocacy group Consumer Watchdog. Another advocacy group, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, also made similar charges.
News Clipping
Google, Safari And The Wild Web At War
By Levi Sumagaysay , GOOD MORNING SILICON VALLEY BLOG (San Jose Mercury News)
17. February 2012
The day after a Wall Street Journal report that Google and other ad networks bypassed settings on Apple‘s Safari Web browser — which doesn’t allow certain third-party cookies — reactions are mixed. While some tech bloggers are saying, basically, that the WSJ report is blowing this thing out of proportion, one persistent Google critic, the Consumer Watchdog advocacy group, has reportedly already asked the FTC to investigate. And Microsoft, which is no friend of Google’s, has also weighed in and blasted its competitor. There’s no getting around it: This looks bad for Google, which lately seems to be putting out one PR fire after another.
News Clipping
Google Caught With Hand In Safari’s Cookie Jar
By Richard Adhikari , TECHNEWSWORLD.COM
17. February 2012
Google is among a handful of companies that used a certain unusual characteristic of Apple’s Safari Web browser to insert tracking cookies on users’ machines, according to recent research from a Stanford grad student. The news has outraged consumer advocacy groups, though Google claims it was using known Safari functionality to provide features that signed in Google users had enabled.
News Clipping
Google Violated IPhone Users’ Privacy, Stanford Study Finds
By Heather Perlberg , BLOOMBERG BUSINESSWEEK
17. February 2012
Google’s actions also prompted Consumer Watchdog to send a letter to the FTC and demand action against Google. “Safari users with the browser set to block third-party cookies thought they were not being tracked,” John Simpson, privacy project director of Consumer Watchdog, said in the letter. “Nonetheless, because of an element invisible to the user, but designed to mimic a form, DoubleClick was able to set tracking cookies in an obvious violation of the set preference.”
News Clipping
Google Caught Tracking Apple Users
By Brendan Sasso , THEHILL.COM - HILLICON VALLEY BLOG
17. February 2012
Consumer Watchdog, a frequent Google critic, accused the company of lying and urged the Federal Trade Commission to take “immediate action” to crack down on the “unfair and deceptive trade practices.”
News Clipping
Google’s Cookie Trick in Safari Stirs Debate
By Brian X. Chen , THE NEW YORK TIMES BITS BLOG
17. February 2012
The advocacy group Consumer Watchdog has asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether Google violated a previous agreement with the agency, which required Google to be up front about privacy matters. It says Google manipulated Safari users into believing they could permanently opt out of targeted advertising, when in reality they couldn’t.
Video Player
Consumer Watchdog’s Carmen Balber discusses Internet privacy and the need for an online “Do Not Track Me” list.
Become an Insider
- Watch our new Times Square video: Don't Be Evil?
- Google using search engine to muscle into Internet businesses, study finds
- Can Google explain this search result?
- We have taken the “Do Not Track Me” fight to Times Square!
- You can take action now...
- Dennis: Google suspended my account on Adwords, while they...
- george collins: Alors! Orwell must be smiling. G...
- Bankruptcy lawyer: If it was any other company than the almighty Goog...
- actually: Marvelous post! Google Feels Heat On Shady Ads&nbs...
- I've: Wonderful post! Invading Our Privacy on the Intern...
Donate Today
Note: clicking the link will take you to our partner page.
22. February 2012