Inside Google

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Google Ending Privacy Breach Consumer Watchdog Targeted In FTC Complaint

Posted by John M. Simpson

Google apparently is ending an egregious privacy breach involving people who buy apps from its Google Play store using Google Wallet to pay. Consumer Watchdog filed a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission with a copy to California Attorney General Kamala Harris about what Google was doing. The complaint alleged that the Internet giant was violating its privacy policies and its “Buzz” consent agreement with the FTC.

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EU’s Google Antitrust Deal Beats FTC, But Still Doesn’t Do Enough

Posted by John M. Simpson

Details of Google’s proposed settlement with the European Union to avoid antitrust charges have been leaking out of Brussels over the weekend. And while EU competition authorities appear to have accomplished more that the gentle tap on the wrist meted out by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, the deal as so far revealed doesn’t do enough to end Google’s anti-competitive practices.

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Google’s Privacy Chief Is Stepping Down

Posted by John M. Simpson

Google’s privacy chief, Alma Whitten, is stepping down the Internet giant confirmed Monday. Since word of her departure came out on April Fools’ Day many folks probably thought this was part of the company’s annual elaborate pranks like its “announcement” of a new service called “Google Nose.”

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Did The FTC Find Its Spine In Google Probe? We Need To Keep The Pressure On

Posted by John M. Simpson

Last weekend news broke that the Federal Trade Commission was about to settle its two-year antitrust investigation of Google with what charitably could be termed a slight tap on the wrist. But by Tuesday night the reported holiday gift to the Internet giant was unraveling and the FTC signaled it would keep the investigation going into January. So what’s behind the Commission’s new found spine? Is it real? Will it last?

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Google Gets Antitrust Ultimatum From FTC

Posted by John M. Simpson

Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz has given Google what Bloomberg News Service describes as an ultimatum to settle the agency’s antitrust investigation in the next few days or face a lawsuit.

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Get Real Sergey, But Here’s How You Could Actually Help

Posted by John M. Simpson

Sergey Brin, Google’s co-founder, is getting a little bit of ink for his suggestion that all politicians elected today quit their parties and “govern as independents in name and in spirit.”

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Google’s Dominance Sparks Fear, Draws Antitrust Concerns

Posted by John M. Simpson

A weekend New York Times article puts a clear focus on the issues that are drawing antitrust regulators to focus on the Internet giant’s anticompetitive practices. Written by Steve Lohr and Clair Cain Miller the article, Google Casts a Big Shadow on Smaller Web Sites, explains what’s going on: Regulators in the United States and [...]

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Pressure Mounts Against Google for Its Anticompetitive Behavior

Posted by John M. Simpson

Signs that Google will soon face strong antitrust action on both sides of the Atlantic are increasing with a report Thursday from Bloomberg News Service that the the Federal Trade Commission staff has recommended that the Internet giant be sued for unfairly blocking competitors’ access to smartphone-technology patents.

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FTC Readies Antitrust Suit Against Google; Consumer Watchdog Called For Breakup Two Years Ago

Posted by John M. Simpson

News broke over the weekend that Federal Trade Commission staff is calling for the Commission to bring an antitrust case against Google for abusing its dominance in search, an action Consumer Watchdog first called for more than two years ago.

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FTC Estimates Google’s Privacy Hack Earned Up To $4 million

Posted by John M. Simpson

One of the things you hear when companies try to minimize the impact of privacy violations is an attempt to claim there was no financial harm to consumers. However, in an interesting development the Federal Trade Commission is now publicly estimating that Google’s hack around Apple’s Safari browser privacy settings earned the Internet giant up to $ 4 million.

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Obama Ad Libs, Snubs Google In Acceptance Speech

Posted by John M. Simpson

Consumer Watchdog has long been critical of the way Google has had easy access to the corridors of power in the Obama Administration. Now there is clear sign that the Internet giant has lost its luster with the President.

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Judge Orders Google, Oracle To Reveal Any Payments To Writers

Posted by John M. Simpson

Ever wonder who is behind some of the opinions expressed by various bloggers. Could it be that some are being paid to express particular views? Are they hit-men-for-hire?

Well, you’re not the only one to ask. The difference, though, is that this person can demand answers. The federal judge presiding in the Oracle v. Google patent infringement case wants to know if either company paid commentators or bloggers during the case.

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Google Claims Another Wi-Spy “Mistake” After Breaking Promise

Posted by John M. Simpson

Google admitted Friday to the British data protection authorities that it failed to keep its promise to destroy data its Street View cars sucked up from private Wi-Fi networks. True to its form throughout out the Wi-Spy scandal, the Internet giant claimed it was all a mistake.