Inside Google – Page 91 – A Consumer Watchdog Investigation.

Thu, Feb 18, 2010

News Clipping

Google In Court Over Books Deal

Search giant Google is facing its opponents in a New York court over long-delayed plans to create the world’s largest online library. Critics say the pact would hand the search giant a monopoly over online books sales. Some 26 interested parties will be given time to outline any objections. "This case is the key showdown. It’s high-noon time in front of a
judge," said John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog, one of the groups that
objects to the settlement. "I do think all the books in the world should be digitised, but I think
it is completely wrong to give one huge company control of that huge
database and this is a very, very important matter," Mr Simpson said.

Wed, Feb 17, 2010

News Clipping

Google Buzz ‘Breaks Privacy Laws’

By Maggie Shiels

A leading privacy group has urged US regulators to investigate Google’s
new social networking service Buzz, one week after its launch.

The Consumer Watchdog, an advocacy group, said it was not surprised by this stumble. "This case illustrates a lot about Google’s corporate culture where a
company is run by computer scientists whose operating method is don’t
ask for permission when you can always ask for forgiveness," said the
organisation’s John Simpson.

Mon, Feb 15, 2010

Blog Post

Google’s privacy debacle displays firm’s true colors

Posted by John M. Simpson

Google’s launch of its social network "Buzz" and the ensuing outcry from consumers over they way it trampled on their privacy rights says a lot about the Internet giant’s…

Fri, Feb 12, 2010

News Clipping

Google updates Buzz social-networking service amid privacy concerns

By Jessica Guynn

The Internet giant has tweaked the sign-up process to make the
opt-out option clearer and made it easier to block people from
following users.

"Google shows continued tone deafness to the very important privacy
rights of consumers," John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog said.

Fri, Feb 12, 2010

News Clipping

Next Chapter In Digital Book Deal: Google vs. DOJ

By Michael Liedtke

Google seems to want Judge Chin to be the man making the decision, said John
Simpson of Consumer Watchdog, one of the opponents scheduled to speak
in court next week. "Google has decided it’s longer willing to negotiate with Justice on
this one," Simpson said. "They want to negotiate with the judge
instead."

Wed, Feb 10, 2010

Blog Post

Privacy controls on Google’s Buzz are backwards

Posted by John M. Simpson

Google turned its new "Buzz" social networking function on in my Gmail account today and I spent some time checking it out. Conclusion: it’s got the privacy controls backwards.

While…

Tue, Feb 9, 2010

Blog Post

Google’s Buzz will give Internet giant even more data

Posted by John M. Simpson

Google launched its much anticipated social networking service, Buzz, today aimed a competing with sites like Facebook and Twitter….

Tue, Feb 9, 2010

News Clipping

AdMob May Win Big Even As Privacy Debate Rages

By James Temple

It’s these highly personalized capabilities that raise the hackles of
privacy advocates, however. They raise a host of questions about "how
the data is used and manipulated without the consumer understanding,"
said John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog. Those concerns are only
heightened by the proposed acquisition by Google, which he said could
bore deeper into personal information by coupling its rich user
databases with AdMob’s.

Mon, Feb 8, 2010

Blog Post

Google search ad, what dat?

Posted by John M. Simpson

Super Bowl XLIV wasn’t only a first for the New Orleans Saints, it was also a landmark for Internet giant, Google. The company actually bought an ad, one that ironically reveals exactly the privacy issues raised by the company that consumers should worry about.

Fri, Feb 5, 2010

News Clipping

Justice Department Objects to Revised Google Books Settlement

By Wire Reports

The Department of Justice filed a statement of interest February 4 saying that that despite “substantial progress” it still had objections to the proposed settlement of lawsuits challenging Google’s Book Search project, noting that the agreement continued to raise copyright, antitrust, and class certification issues. Consumer Watchdog, which had filed a brief opposing the settlement, praised the Justice Department’s stance. “The Department of Justice should
be commended for standing firm in opposing this private deal that
unfairly benefits the narrow agenda of one company,” said John M.
Simpson, a consumer advocate with the nonprofit group. “The DOJ filing
and the outpouring of other briefs from around the world opposing the
amended settlement, such as the one filed by Consumer Watchdog, make it
almost certain Judge Denny Chin will reject the deal.”

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