Inside Google

Press Release

FTC’s $22.5 Million Penalty For Google Is Insufficient Without Admission Of Wrongdoing, Consumer Watchdog Says; Group Hopes To Block Settlement

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

SANTA MONICA, CA – The Federal Trade Commission’s record $22.5 million penalty against Google is inadequate unless the Internet giant admits its wrongdoing, Consumer Watchdog said today.

Press Release

Google CEO Larry Page Has Lost His Voice, But Internet Giant Continues Spending Record Sums To Be Heard In Washington; Facebook Also Sets Record

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

WASHINGTON, DC – Google and Facebook continued pumping record amounts of money into their lobbying efforts during the second quarter to influence federal lawmakers and regulators, according to lobbying disclosure forms filed with the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Press Release

FTC’s Expected Record $22.5 Million Fine For Google Praised By Consumer Watchdog

CONTACT: John M. Simpson , 310-292-1902

Group Complained to Commission After Grad Student Discovered iPads, iPhones Were Hacked

SANTA MNICA, CA – The Federal Trade Commission reportedly plans to fine Google $22.5 million for hacking around privacy settings on iPhones and iPads that use Apple’s Safari browser. Consumer Watchdog praised the Commission today for its expected strong action defending consumer privacy.

Press Release

Don’t Allow Google’s Driverless Cars On Our Highways Without Strong Privacy Protection, Consumer Watchdog Tells California Assembly Transportation Committee

CONTACT: John M. Simpson , 310-292-1902

SACRAMENTO, CA – Google’s driverless cars should not be allowed on our highways unless strong privacy protections for users of the new technology are implemented, Consumer Watchdog told the California Assembly’s Transportation Committee today.

Press Release

Consumer Watchdog’s Mimes Invade Mountain View Before Google Shareholders Meeting As Its “Track Team” Focuses Attention On Google’s Online Tracking

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

Group Plans To Ask Google Executives What They Knew About Wi-Spy

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA – Consumer Watchdog today sent its “Google Track Team” comprised of mimes dressed in white track suits to follow shareholders as they gathered for the company’s annual meeting in a bid to focus attention on the Internet giant’s online tracking activity.

Press Release

Google CEO Page Should Testify To Congress As News Corp. CEO Murdoch Had To Answer To Parliament Says Consumer Watchdog

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

Washington, DC – In an opinion piece published in POLITICO today, Consumer Watchdog’s Jamie Court and John M. Simpson compare the treatment of News Corp CEO Rupert Murdoch – who was called before Parliament in Britain to answer for hacking into the private phone records of families – and the kid glove treatment Google CEO Larry Page has received in America after a much larger privacy breach in which the new media giant collected personal information from millions of Wi-Fi networks around the world.

Press Release

Consumer Watchdog Seeks To Stop Google’s Driverless Cars On U.S. Highways Without Privacy Protections

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

Group Seeks Amendments to California Legislation

SANTA MONICA, CA –Google’s driverless cars should not be allowed on U.S. highways unless adequate privacy protections for users of the new technology are implemented, Consumer Watchdog said today.

Press Release

Consumer Watchdog Counters Google’s FOIA Objections in FCC Wi-Spy Probe

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

Wants Release of Underlying Documents in Commission’s Investigation

SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog today countered Google’s objections to the Federal Communications Commission’s release of detailed documents about the Commission’s investigation

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.