Inside Google

FTC Backs ‘Do Not Track’ Feature In Final Privacy Report

Drew Bowling

Following the report’s release, Consumer Watchdog, an organization whose name leaves little to imagination as to its purpose, praised the FTC for supporting the ‘Do Not Track’ mechanism that will hopefully return control of data collection to the people of the internet. Consumer Watchdog has been at this fight for a couple of years, working to get consumer privacy reform at the top of the government’s to-do list. “Those efforts are paying off,” said John M. Simpson, director of Consumer Watchdog’s Privacy Project. “The FTC’s support of Do Not Track means that consumers should have a meaningful way to control the tracking of their online activities by the end of the year.”

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

John M. Simpson

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.

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

Carmen Balber

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.

Reding: Google Privacy Policy Is Illegal

Clint Boulton

California-based Google critic Consumer Watchdog called Google’s sweeping changes a “spy policy” rather than a privacy policy, an allusion to the fact that the move will help Google funnel data on users in one larger silo for targeted ads.

Google Privacy Policy Strikes Out With EU, Others

Pete Barlas

“Calling this a privacy policy is Orwellian doublespeak,” John Simpson, privacy project director for Consumer Watchdog and a longtime Google critic, said in a statement. “Google isn’t telling you about protecting your privacy. Google is telling you how they will gather information about you on all of its services, combine it in new ways and use the fat new digital dossiers to sell more ads. They’re telling you how they plan to spy on you.”

Google Enforces New Privacy Policy, Despite International Outcry About Its Implications

Marc Pinter-Krainer

“Calling this a ‘privacy policy’ is Orwellian doublespeak,” said John M. Simpson, Consumer Watchdog’s Privacy Project Director. “Google isn’t telling you about protecting your privacy. Google is telling you how they will gather information about you on all its services, combine it in new ways and use the fat new digital dossiers to sell more ads. They’re telling you how they plan to spy on you. It’s a spy policy.”

Google Rolls Out New Privacy Policy Amid Howls

Staff Writers

“Calling this a ‘privacy policy’ is Orwellian doublespeak,” said John Simpson of the US advocacy group Consumer Watchdog.

Google’s Privacy Rules Grow, But Do Protections?

Quentin Fottrell

“Google claims that it’s attempting to streamline its policies — in fact, it’s about building even more detailed digital dossiers about the people who use Google services so that Google will get more ad revenue.,” says John M. Simpson, director of Consumer Watchdog’s Privacy Project, a California-based non-profit organization.“

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

John M. Simpson

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.”

Bono Mack Plans Privacy Hearing

Paul C. Barton

WASHINGTON – As watchdog groups urge a slowdown in Google’s new privacy policy, Rep. Mary Bono Mack’s office announced Tuesday a hearing on privacy issues March 29 in which Google will likely participate.