Inside Google

Consumer Watchdog Challenges Google-FTC Privacy Settlement

Juan Carlos Perez

Consumer Watchdog, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group, is dialing up its criticism of the proposed privacy settlement between the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and Google.

Consumer Watchdog Asks Judge for Permission to Oppose FTC Settlement With Google

John M. Simpson

Cites Need For Google to Accept Responsibility For Wrongdoing

SAN FRANCISCO – Consumer Watchdog has filed a motion in U.S. District Court asking that it be allowed to oppose the $22.5 million settlement the Federal Trade Commission has reached with Google because the agreement allows the Internet giant to deny any wrongdoing.

Google Buys Frommer’s Travel Guides in Yet Another Contested Move as a Content Publisher

Miranda Miller

“There is a fundamental conflict between being a search provider and a content provider,” Consumer Watchdog Privacy Project Director John Simpson told The Inquirer. “As Google has increased its content and services, it has unfairly favoured them in its search results and damaged competitors. It makes absolutely no sense to approve this deal.”

The FTC’s Threat to Web Consumers

LGordon Crovitz

Yet groups such as Consumer Watchdog have called on government regulators to block the sale. The Fairsearch.org consortium of competitors to Google—which includes Microsoft—issued a statement that “encourages government officials to look closely” at how Google uses the acquisition.

Consumer Watchdog Asks the FTC to Block Google’s Acquisition of Frommer

Carly Page

Internet services giant Google has announced plans to acquire travel brand Frommer for an undisclosed amount in a deal that has already come under fire from Consumer Watchdog.

Consumer Watchdog Calls for Google’s Acquisition of Frommer to be Blocked

Sooraj Shah

Google’s latest attempt to add more content to its local business listings by buying travel brand Frommer has been challenged by the Consumer Watchdog.

Google To Buy Frommer’s Travel Guides

Jessica Guynn

Longtime Google critic Consumer Watchdog, an organization based in Santa Monica, said it would call on federal antitrust authorities to block the purchase. “There is a fundamental conflict between being a search provider and a content provider,” Consumer Watchdog spokesman John Simpson said in an emailed statement.

How Google Barged Into The Travel Business

Staff Writers

“There is a fundamental conflict between being a search provider and a content provider,” said John M. Simpson, Consumer Watchdog’s Privacy Project Director.

Google Attacked By Antitrust Watchdog Over Frommer’s Buy

Matthew Finnegan

Google has snapped up travel guidebook brand Frommer’s, a deal which has been attacked by a consumer group over potential antitrust implications.

Mo Content, Mo Problems: Google’s Frommer’s Acquisition Could Lead To Additional Antitrust Scrutiny

Frederic Lardinois

With its recent purchase of Zagat and today’s announcement that it is acquiring travel guide company Frommer’s, there can be little doubt that Google is getting deeper into the content business. This move makes a lot of sense for Google, which is trying to add more content to its local reviews business and Knowledge Graph, but it could also put the company under additional scrutiny from antitrust investigators in the U.S. and elsewhere. Already, the consumer advocacy organization Consumer Watchdog is calling upon government regulators to block the acquisition.