The legislation would require businesses to “provide a consumer in California with a method to opt out” of the “collection, use and storage” of consumer information, the bill states. It also gives the California Attorney General and the California Office of Privacy Protection the authority to "develop and enforce do-not-track regulations," according to a press release issued today by Consumer Watchdog, a nonprofit advocacy group.
Continue reading...Monday, April 4, 2011
The advocacy group Consumer Watchdog, which is sponsoring Lowenthal's bill, says that if it is enacted, California would become the first state to give people the right to eschew online tracking.
Continue reading...Monday, April 4, 2011
SACRAMENTO, CA – Consumer Watchdog unveiled new landmark California legislation to allow consumers in the state to stop unwanted online tracking and, in a letter, challenged Google CEO Larry Page, in his first day on the job, to support the "Do Not Track Me" plan and demonstrate Google is moving in a new direction. The bill, SB 761, was introduced by Sen. Alan Lowenthal, D- Long Beach, and sponsored by Consumer Watchdog.
Continue reading...Monday, April 4, 2011
The privacy group Consumer Watchdog is challenging Google to improve its privacy standards as the company undergoes a regime change in its top office. On Larry Page's first day as chief executive, the watchdog asked him to support a Do-Not-Track regime for Internet privacy outlined in a California state bill.
Continue reading...Friday, April 1, 2011
Consumer groups, however, were far from satisfied with the FTC's conclusion or with Google's apology. John Simpson, the director of the Inside Google project at the advocacy group Consumer Watchdog, accused Google of getting a free pass from the government and pressed for further investigation and recourse for the company.
Continue reading...Friday, April 1, 2011
Consumer Watchdog, for one, believes the settlement falls short of its goal because it lacks bite. "We appreciate this landmark privacy decision by the FTC, but Google needs to be punished and feel pain on its bottom line," John Simpson, Consumer Watchdog's Privacy Project director, said in a statement. "Nothing will completely stop Google from invading users' privacy until it gets hit where it hurts, its bank accounts."
Continue reading...Wednesday, March 16, 2011
The Obama Administration threw its weight behind privacy legislation Wednesday as Assistant Commerce Secretary Lawrence Strickling testified before the Senate Commerce Committee about online privacy. Clearly Washington is focusing on privacy issues, but will meaningful consumer protections be enacted? There is cause for concern.
Continue reading...Wednesday, March 16, 2011
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A "multi-stakeholder process" to develop online privacy codes advocated today by the Obama Administration runs the risk of being dominated by industry and failing to protect consumers if it is not organized in a fair and balanced manner, six public interest groups warned. The groups include Consumer Watchdog, The Center for Digital Democracy, Consumer Federation of America, Consumer Action, U.S. PIRG and the World Privacy Forum.
Continue reading...Friday, March 11, 2011
Consumer Watchdog asked House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., to examine Google’s close ties with the Obama administration. It also wants a broader Justice Department investigation of Google along the lines of the years-long antitrust probe of Microsoft, which culminated in a 2002 settlement with the government.
Continue reading...Friday, March 4, 2011
The do not track concept is supported across all demographic lines -- including political persuasions. According to Consumer Watchdog, 86 percent of Americans want a “Do Not Track” button created. In addition, 70 percent of Facebook members and 52 percent of Google users say they are either "somewhat" or "very concerned about their privacy, according to a recent a recent USA Today poll.
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Monday, April 4, 2011
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