Inside Google

Press Release

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

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

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.

Press Release

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

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

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.

Press Release

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

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

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.

Press Release

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

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

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.

Press Release

Consumer Watchdog Says Google’s Record Lobbying Tab Shows Astounding Cynicism

CONTACT: Jamie Court , (310) 392-0522 ext. 327; or Carmen Balber ext. 308

Internet Giant’s Expenses Soar 240 Percent, Topping $5.03 Million In 1st Quarter

WASHINGTON DC — Google continues to pump record amounts into its effort to influence federal legislators and policymakers, spending $5.03 million on lobbying in the first quarter of 2012, a 240 percent increase from the same quarter a year ago, according to new disclosures filed with the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Press Release

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

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

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.

Press Release

Consumer Watchdog Calls on Commerce Department To Offer Privacy Legislation

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

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.

Press Release

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

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

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.

Press Release

Consumer Watchdog Applauds FTC, EU Investigations of Google’s Violation of Apple Users’ Privacy

CONTACT: Carmen Balber , 310-392-0522 x308; or Jamie Court, x327

Says FTC Action Needed to Stop Google Engineers Playing ‘Fast and Loose’ With Consumers’ Private Information

Santa Monica, CA – Consumer Watchdog welcomed reports today confirming that the Federal Trade Commission and European regulators are investigating Google for violating the online privacy choices of consumers using the Safari web browser on Apple computers, iPhones and iPads. In a letter last month, Consumer Watchdog said that Google was lying to consumers and called on the FTC to act.

Press Release

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

CONTACT: John M. Simpson , 310-392-7041

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.”

Press Release

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

CONTACT: John M. Simpson , 310-392-7041

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.

Press Release

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

CONTACT: John M. Simpson , 310-392-7041

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.

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.