Inside Google

Press Release

Consumer Watchdog Praises European Action on Google’s New Privacy Policy, Calls For FTC To Determine If Proposed Changes Violate Consent Agreement

CONTACT: John M. Simpson , 310-392-7041; or cell: 310-292-1902

SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog today praised European data protection authorities for asking Google to delay implementation of its new privacy and data policies and said the U.S. Federal Trade Commission should determine whether the new policies violate the terms of Google’s consent agreement with the commission.

Press Release

Consumer Watchdog Urges Google Congressional Briefing Be Open To Public, Says Closed-Door Session Demonstrates Internet Giant Executives’ ‘Hypocrisy’

CONTACT: John M. Simpson , 310-392-0522 x317 or cell: 310-292-1902

SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog today called for a Congressional briefing about Google’s new privacy and data policies to be open to the public and said a closed door-session with the lawmakers demonstrated Google executive’s “hypocrisy.”

Press Release

Consumer Watchdog Says Sweeping Online Data Protection In Europe Could Benefit U.S. Consumers

CONTACT: John M. Simpson , 310-292-1902; or Carmen Balber, 310-403-0284

Google’s New Arrogant Data Consolidation Policy Underscores Need For Strong Protections

BRUSSELS, Belgium — Landmark online privacy regulations proposed in Europe today that include the concept of a “right to be forgotten” could help provide U.S. consumers with tools necessary to protect their data held by Internet giants like Google, Facebook and Microsoft, if ultimately enacted, Consumer Watchdog said today.

Press Release

Consumer Watchdog During Brussels Visit Urges European Commission To Block Google’s Motorola Deal And File Formal Antitrust Complaint

CONTACT: John M. Simpson , (310) 292-1902; Jamie Court, (310) 392-0522, ext. 317

BRUSSELS – Consumer Watchdog, a U.S.-based consumer advocacy group, today called for the EU’s antitrust regulators to block Google’s acquisition of Motorola Mobility and ultimately issue a formal antitrust complaint against the Internet giant’s ongoing business practices.

Press Release

Consumer Watchdog Says Google’s Lobbying Expenses Show Firm Has Adopted ‘Cash and Carry’ Approach to Politics; Spending Soars 87 Percent

CONTACT: Carmen Balber , (310) 403-0284; or John M. Simpson, (310) 292-1902

WASHINGTON, DC – Internet giant Google spent nearly $10 million lobbying federal policymakers in 2012, showing that the company has abandoned its idealistic “Don’t Be Evil” roots and has bought into Washington’s corrupt “cash and carry” political system, Consumer Watchdog said today.

Press Release

Consumer Watchdog Calls For President Obama to Endorse Do Not Track and Online Privacy Legislation During State of the Union Message

CONTACT: John M. Simpson , 310-392-0522 x317, or cell: 310-292-1902

WASHINGTON, DC – Consumer Watchdog today called on President Obama to use the State of the Union message to endorse baseline privacy legislation and support Do Not Track regulations that would give consumers control of whether their information is gathered while they use the Internet.

Press Release

Consumer Watchdog Says Los Angeles Must Demand Removal of Deceptive Video After City Council Kills Plan for Police to Use Google’s Cloud-based Email

CONTACT: John M. Simpson , 310-392-0522 x317; or Jamie Court, x327

SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog today called on Los Angeles officials to demand Google remove a deceptive video featuring Los Angeles City employees from a website marketing the Internet giant’s Google Apps for Government “cloud computing” service.

Press Release

Consumer Watchdog Warns Chicago Public Schools Of Google’s Los Angeles Failures As Nation’s Third Largest School District Considers Massive New Email System

CONTACT: John M. Simpson , 310-292-1902; Jamie Court, 310-392-0522 x327; Carmen Balber, 202-629-3043

SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog today warned the Chicago Board of Education to consider Google’s failures in implementing an email system for the City of Los Angeles as the seven members consider a new email and collaboration system for the nation’s third largest school district.

Press Release

Consumer Watchdog Asks Justice Department, FCC To Investigate ‘Spyphone Scandal’

CONTACT: John M. Simpson , 310-392-0522, x317

Probe of Wiretap Violations Should Include Google, Apple As Well As Software Maker

WASHINGTON, DC – Consumer Watchdog today called for a federal investigation into the “Spyphone Scandal”, in which software embedded in smartphones surreptitiously tracks users’ activities, including their keystrokes and numbers they dialed.

Press Release

Consumer Watchdog Calls For Criminal Charges Against Internet Executives As Feds Shut Down Scam Ads On Bing and Yahoo! After Earlier Action Focusing On Google

CONTACT: John M. Simpson , 310-392-0522 x317

SANTA MONICA CA – Consumer Watchdog today said executives of leading Internet companies Google, Microsoft and Yahoo! should face criminal charges for their roles in allowing mortgage modification ad scammers to advertise on their sites.

Press Release

Consumer Watchdog Calls On Google To Donate Tainted Revenue From Deceptive Online Ads It Published As Feds Shut Down 85 Mortgage Modification Scammers

CONTACT: John M. Simpson , 310-392-0522, x317

SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog today called on Google to donate the tainted revenue it received from deceptive ads preying on vulnerable homeowners to non-profit groups that help consumers with credit problems, including homeowners seeking to avoid foreclosure. The mortgage modification scams were first revealed in a Consumer Watchdog report last February.

Press Release

Consumer Watchdog Asks LA Mayor, City Council To Demand Google Remove Video With City Employees Touting Google Apps; Says Apps Can Have Frightening Results

CONTACT: John M. Simpson , 310-392-7041, or cell: 310-292-1902; or Jamie Court, 310-392-0075

SANTA MONICA, CA – Google Apps can be dangerous, Consumer Watchdog warned today and the public interest group said Los Angeles has been responsible for “giving the first imprint of credibility and acceptance to a program that has failed Los Angeles and other communities with frightening consequences.”

Press Release

Consumer Watchdog Calls Google’s Explanation For Its Record $5.9 Million Lobbying Spending ‘Disingenuous Bafflegab’

CONTACT: John M. Simpson , 310-392-7041, or cell: 310-292-1902; or Jamie Court, 310-392-0075

“The fact is the company is facing a well-deserved antitrust investigation by the Federal Trade Commission and wants to escape any consequences for its anti-competitive behavior,” said John M. Simpson, director of Consumer Watchdog’s Privacy Project. “They’ve got billions in profits stashed in off-shore tax havens and are pressing for a tax-holiday to bring it into the United States.”