Author Archives | John M. Simpson

Group Welcomes Sen. Grassley’s Probe Of Google’s Use Of NASA Airfield

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Group Welcomes Sen. Grassley’s Probe Of Google’s Use Of NASA Airfield

Consumer Watchdog Report Revealed How Google Bases Jet Fleet At Moffett Field

SANTA MONICA, CA — Consumer Watchdog today welcomed an investigation by Sen. Charles Grassley, (R-Iowa) into Google’s use of NASA’s Moffett Federal Airfield in Santa Clara County, California, near Google headquarters.

Share
Continue reading...

FTC Appears Ready To Fine Google Millions For iPad, iPhone Privacy Breach

Friday, May 4, 2012

FTC Appears Ready To Fine Google Millions For iPad, iPhone Privacy Breach

Consumer Watchdog Complained To Commission After Hack Was Discovered

SANTA MONICA, CA – The Federal Trade Commission appears ready to fine Google millions of dollars for hacking around privacy settings on iPhones and iPads. Consumer Watchdog filed a complaint in February with the FTC after Stanford Researcher Jonathan Mayer revealed what the Internet giant was doing.

Share
Continue reading...

Consumer Watchdog Files FOIA Request Seeking All Documents In FCC’s Investigation Of Google Wi-Spy Scandal

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Consumer Watchdog Files FOIA Request Seeking All Documents In FCC’s Investigation Of Google Wi-Spy Scandal

SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog today filed a Freedom Of Information Act Request with the Federal Communications Commission seeking all documents related to the Commission’s investigation of the Google Wi-Spy scandal.

Share
Continue reading...

Consumer Watchdog Calls For Senate Hearing on Google Wi-Spy Scandal

Monday, April 30, 2012

Consumer Watchdog Calls For Senate Hearing on Google Wi-Spy Scandal

Urges ‘Engineer Doe’ Be Given Immunity For Testifying About His Role
SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog today called for a Senate hearing into the Google Wi-Spy scandal and urged that a key figure known in a Federal Communications Commission report as “Engineer Doe” be granted immunity from prosecution in return for his testimony.

Share
Continue reading...

Consumer Watchdog Demands FCC Release Uncensored Google Wi-Spy Decision, Decries Internet Giant’s Hypocrisy For Deliberately Obstructing Investigation

Monday, April 16, 2012

Consumer Watchdog Demands FCC Release Uncensored Google Wi-Spy Decision, Decries Internet Giant’s Hypocrisy For Deliberately Obstructing Investigation

SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog today demanded that the Federal Communications Commission release an uncensored version of its highly redacted decision to fine Google $25,000 for deliberately impeding and delaying its investigation of the Wi-Spy scandal.

Share
Continue reading...

Consumer Watchdog Calls on Commerce Department To Offer Privacy Legislation

Monday, April 2, 2012

Consumer Watchdog Calls on Commerce Department To Offer Privacy Legislation

Says Proposed “Multi-Stakeholder Process” Must Be Fair, Transparent and Credible

SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog today called on the U.S. Department of Commerce to offer legislation to implement the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights proposed by the Administration.

Share
Continue reading...

Federal Trade Commission Privacy Report Backs Do Not Track, A Key Policy Goal Of Consumer Watchdog

Monday, March 26, 2012

Federal Trade Commission Privacy Report Backs Do Not Track, A Key Policy Goal Of Consumer Watchdog

SANTA MONICA, CA — Consumer Watchdog praised the Federal Trade Commission’s privacy report released today supporting a Do Not Track Mechanism that will help give people control of the collection and use of their personal data when they are online.

Share
Continue reading...

Google’s New “Privacy” Policy Is Really A “Spy Policy,” Consumer Watchdog Says

Thursday, March 1, 2012

1 Comment

Google’s New “Privacy” Policy Is Really A “Spy Policy,” Consumer Watchdog Says

SANTA MONICA, CA – As Google today killed 60 separate “privacy” policies for its services and said it would now combine data between services despite widespread objection, Consumer Watchdog said the new unified policy isn’t a privacy policy; it is a “spy policy.”

Share
Continue reading...

Google Forging Ahead With New Policy Despite More Objections; Fines Needed

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Google Forging Ahead With New Policy Despite More Objections; Fines Needed

Google is forging ahead with its plan to launch its new privacy and data handling policies this Thursday despite objections from regulators on both sides of the Atlantic.

Share
Continue reading...

Consumer Groups Say Commerce Subcommittee Should Hold Public Hearing on Google’s Privacy Plans, Not Closed-Door Briefing

Friday, February 24, 2012

Consumer Groups Say Commerce Subcommittee Should Hold Public Hearing on Google’s Privacy Plans, Not Closed-Door Briefing

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Five consumer and privacy groups today joined in sending a letter to the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade calling for public hearings on Google planned privacy changes, rather than a secret briefing.

Share
Continue reading...

White House Plan For Privacy Bill Of Rights Could Boost Protections, Consumer Watchdog Joins Groups Issuing Principles For Fair Process, Voices Some Concerns

Thursday, February 23, 2012

White House Plan For Privacy Bill Of Rights Could Boost Protections, Consumer Watchdog Joins Groups Issuing Principles For Fair Process, Voices Some Concerns

SANTA MONICA, CA – The Obama Administration’s blueprint to protect online privacy with a “Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights” unveiled today could provide meaningful protections, Consumer Watchdog said, but warned that the test of its effectiveness will come as the implementation unfolds. The nonprofit, nonpartisan public interest group also voiced a concern that an announced Internet industry commitment to honor “Do Not Track” could be aimed at undercutting an effort by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to create a strict Do Not Track standard.

Share
Continue reading...

Consumer Watchdog Calls California ‘Apps’ Privacy Agreement A Step Forward, But Says Do Not Track Legislation Is Necessary To Protect Consumers

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Consumer Watchdog Calls California ‘Apps’ Privacy Agreement A Step Forward, But Says Do Not Track Legislation Is Necessary To Protect Consumers

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.

Share
Continue reading...

Consumer Watchdog Praises State Attorneys General Action Against Google

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Consumer Watchdog Praises State Attorneys General Action Against Google

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.

Share
Continue reading...