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New DMV Robot Car Rules Prioritize Safety; Follow Consumer Watchdog’s Call To Require Steering Wheel And Pedals; Privacy & Cybersecurity Also Addressed

By John M. Simpson

SANTA MONICA, CA – Draft regulations covering self-driving robot cars issued today by the California Department of Motor Vehicles incorporate a key safety provision advocated by Consumer Watchdog and require the robot cars to have a steering wheel and pedals and be occupied by a licensed driver capable of taking control of the vehicle.

Don’t Rush Robot Car Rules, Consumer Watchdog Tells Transportation Secretary Foxx

John M. Simpson

Put Focus On Enforceable Standards For Automated Technologies That Improve Safety
SANTA MONICA, CA – Self-driving robot cars are not ready for public use and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) must not rush to implement regulations covering the vehicles as it updates its policy on automated vehicle technologies, Consumer Watchdog said today.

Consumer Watchdog Urges California DMV To Ignore Google’s Pressure, Continue Deliberate Pace To Act In Public Interest On Writing Robot Car Regulations

John M. Simpson

SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog today called on the California Department of Motor Vehicles to rebuff pressure from Google and continue at a deliberate pace to ensure regulations covering robot cars protect public safety.

Consumer Watchdog Vows To Press Case For Online Privacy At Google and Facebook After FCC Rejects Petition For Rules Covering Largest Online Companies

John M. Simpson

SANTA MONICA, CA – In the wake of the Federation Communication Commission’s denial of its petition seeking online privacy protections at online companies like Google and Facebook, Consumer Watchdog today vowed to press state regulators, Congress and the courts to better protect Internet users’ privacy.

Google Trims 3rd Quarter Lobbying To $3.65 Million But Still Leads 16 Tech Firms; Oracle, Amazon Outlays Soar As Facebook Posts 3rd Quarter Record $2.59 Million

John M. Simpson

SANTA MONICA, CA – Google trimmed its 2015 third-quarter federal lobbying spending 7 percent to $3.65 million from $3.94 million in the comparable 2014 period, but still led lobbying expenditures among 16 technology and communications companies tracked by Consumer Watchdog.

Consumer Watchdog Tells DMV Police Must Investigate Robot Car Crashes

John M. Simpson

Crash Data And Video Should Be Provided To Department For Release To Public, Group Says

SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog today called on the California Department of Motor Vehicles to amend its Autonomous Vehicle Regulation to require that police investigate any crashes of robot cars being tested on public roads.

Google’s New Corporate Structure Changes Nothing About Company’s Impact On Consumers’ Privacy; It’s Still The Internet Giant, Consumer Watchdog Says

John M. Simpson

SANTA MONICA, CA – Google’s announcement today that it is creating a new holding company called “Alphabet” changes nothing about the company’s impact and challenges it poses for consumers, the nonprofit public interest group Consumer Watchdog said.

News Clipping

Consumer Watchdog Backs Consumer Privacy Protection Act Introduced By Rep. Cicilline

By John M. Simpson

Consumer Watchdog strongly supports the Consumer Privacy Protection Act introduced today in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. David N. Cicilline, D-RI, and co-sponsored by eleven other Democrats.

California DMV Changes Policy; Now Will Release Robot Car Accident Reports

John M. Simpson

SANTA MONICA, CA – The California Department of Motor Vehicles has reversed its policy and today said it would release accident reports about crashes involving self-driving cars that are being tested on public roads.

Consumer Watchdog Asks FCC To Require Internet Companies To Honor Do Not Track

John M. Simpson

WASHINGTON, DC – Consumer Watchdog today petitioned the Federal Communications Commission to enact rules that would require Internet companies known as “edge providers”, such as Google and Facebook, to honor Do Not Track requests sent from a consumer’s web browser.

Google Reveals Some Robot Car Crash Details After Repeated Calls From Consumer Watchdog; Public Interest Group Says More Accident Information Is Necessary

John M. Simpson

SANTA MONICA, CA – After repeated calls for disclosure from Consumer Watchdog, Google today said it would issue regular reports offering some details of crashes involving its driverless cars. The public interest group said more details are still needed.

Google May Release Robot Car Crash Reports, But Refuses Consumer Watchdog Challenge To Protect Privacy By Limiting Use of Data At Shareholder Meeting Today

John M. Simpson

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA — Google founder Sergey Brin said he would be “open to” releasing accident reports about crashes involving its robot cars in response to a Consumer Watchdog challenge for transparency about the crashes today. However, Google executives rejected Consumer Watchdog’s call to protect privacy of driverless car users by limiting the use of data gathered by the cars to only operating the vehicles.

Google Spends Record $5.47 Million On 1st Quarter Lobbying; Comcast Outlay Soars 50 Percent To $4.62 Million While Amazon Posts 130 Percent Increase To $1.91 Million

John M. Simpson

WASHINGTON, DC — Google spent a record $5.47 million on lobbying during the first quarter of 2015, an increase of 43 percent from $3.82 million in the comparable 2014 period, according to disclosures just filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives.