Inside Google

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.

Consumer Watchdog Praises Europe’s Planned Antitrust Charges Against Google

John M. Simpson

Group Says Action Should Benefit Americans After FTC’s Failure To Act Decisively

SANTA MONICA, CA — Consumer Watchdog today welcomed news reports that Europe’s competition authorities plan to file formal antitrust charges against Google on Wednesday and added that the action should benefit Americans after the Federal Trade Commission’s failure to take decisive action against the Internet giant.

Consumer Watchdog Urges Europe To File Antitrust Charges Against Google

John M. Simpson

SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog today called on European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager to file formal charges against Google in the European Commission’s ongoing antitrust investigation of the Internet giant.

Child and Consumer Advocates Urge FTC to Investigate and Bring Action Against Google for Excessive and Deceptive Advertising Aimed at Children

John M. Simpson

So-called “Family-Friendly” YouTube Kids App Combines Commercials and Videos, Violating Long-Standing Safeguards for Protecting Children

Washington, DC – Consumer Watchdog has joined a coalition of prominent children’s and consumer advocacy groups that filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission today requesting an investigation of Google, charging the company with unfair and deceptive practices in connection with its new YouTube Kids app.

Consumer Watchdog Welcomes Senate Probe of FTC’s Google Antitrust Investigation; Public Interest Group Called For Inquiry After Newspaper Published Key Documents

John M. Simpson

WASHINGTON – Consumer Watchdog today welcomed plans by Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) to examine the Federal Trade Commission’s antitrust investigation of Google that was closed in 2013 without a lawsuit.

Consumer Watchdog Calls On FTC To Re-Open Its Google Investigation; Asks Senate Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee To Hold Hearing On How Google Escaped Prosecution

John M. Simpson

WASHINGTON – Consumer Watchdog today called on the Federal Trade Commission to re-open its antitrust investigation of Google and urged the Senate Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee to hold a hearing probing how the Internet giant escaped prosecution for its anticompetitive practices.

Consumer Watchdog Cites Shortcomings In Driverless Car Technology; Says DMV Rules For Robot Cars Must Require Steering Wheel So Human Drivers Can Take Over

John M. Simpson

SANTA MONICA, CA — Consumer Watchdog today warned the California Department of Motor Vehicles that it must not allow Google and others with a vested interest in developing driverless vehicles to push the DMV into issuing rules regulating the public use of robot cars on highways that are inadequate to protect public safety.