Inside Google

Commerce Department Privacy Report Leaves Consumers In The Cold, Recommendations Favor Current Industry Practices, Consumer Watchdog Says

John M. Simpson

WASHINGTON, DC — The Commerce Department’s “Green Paper” about online privacy is an industry friendly document that would perpetuate current failed practices that give companies, not consumers, control of consumer data, Consumer Watchdog said today.

Consumer Watchdog Welcomes Microsoft’s Privacy Tool But Stresses Do Not Track Me Legislation is Still Essential

John M. Simpson

SANTA MONICA, CA — Consumer Watchdog welcomed Microsoft’s announcement today that the company will offer “Tracking Protection” next year, but said robust “Do Not Track Me” legislation still must be passed by Congress.

Consumer Watchdog Says Congress Must Act Now On “Do Not Track Me”

John M. Simpson

WASHINGTON DC — The Federal Trade Commission repeated its support today for a “Do Not Track Me” mechanism to protect consumer online privacy and Consumer Watchdog called on Congress to pass legislation necessary to implement the safeguard.

Consumer Watchdog Welcomes EU Antitrust Probe of Google; Calls On U.S. Justice Department To Launch Investigation

John M. Simpson

Google’s Anticompetitive Tactics Will Be Topic At Group’s Conference Wednesday

WASHINGTON — Consumer Watchdog today welcomed the European Union’s antitrust investigation of Google and reiterated its call for the the U.S. Justice Department to launch its own investigation of the Internet giant.

Google employee’s misleading testimony prompts Consumer Watchdog to call for Wi-Spy hearing

John M. Simpson

CEO Schmidt Should Go To Washington Under Oath

SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog today asked the House Energy and Commerce Committee to hold hearings into Google’s Wi-Spying because a ranking employee of the Internet giant gave testimony that contradicted known facts about the company’s massive privacy invasion.

Consumer Watchdog praises state Attorneys General for continuing Wi-Spy probe

John M. Simpson

SANTA MONICA, CA — Consumer Watchdog today praised a coalition of state attorneys general led by Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal for continuing an investigation into Google’s Wi-Spying scandal in the wake of the Federal Trade Commission halting its probe earlier this week.

FTC wrong to end Wi-Spy probe — public entitled to full account of abuses

John M. Simpson

SANTA MONICA, CA — The Federal Trade Commission’s two-page letter ending its probe of the Google Wi-Spy scandal is premature and wrong, Consumer Watchdog said today, and leaves the American public with no official full account of the Internet giant’s repeated invasions of consumer privacy.

Consumer Watchdog Tells Google To Prove New Privacy Commitment — Changing Wi-Spy Story Makes It Difficult To Believe Measures Are Serious

John M. Simpson

SANTA MONICA, CA — Consumer Watchdog welcomed three new steps Google said it is implementing to protect consumers’ privacy in response to the Wi-Spying scandal, but challenged the Internet giant to prove the measures are more than a public relations ploy.

Google increases spending on lobbying to $1.2 million

John M. Simpson

SANTA MONICA, CA — Google increased its spending on lobbying 11 percent over the previous year to $1.2 million in the third quarter demonstrating the Internet giant’s willingness to spend to shape federal policy, Consumer Watchdog said today. In the comparable quarter a year ago Google spent $1.08 million. A key to Google’s lobbying effort is its well-connected Washington staff, the nonpartisan, nonprofit public interest group said.

Canadian Wi-Spy decision shows need for Congressional hearings

John M. Simpson

SANTA MONICA, CA — The Canadian Privacy Commissioner’s announcement today that Google’s Wi-Spying with its Street View cars broke the law demonstrates the need for U.S. Congressional hearings into the scandal, Consumer Watchdog said. According to Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart: “Our investigation shows that Google did capture personal information – and, in some cases, highly sensitive personal information such as complete e-mails. This incident was a serious violation of Canadians’ privacy rights.