Tag Archive | "executives"

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Consumer Groups Slate Google’s Tiny Wi-Spy Fine

By , eWEEK.COM

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

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John Simpson, director of the Privacy Project at the Consumer Watchdog group, said he was pleased the FCC derided Google “for its blatantly obstructionist violations, but $25,000 is chump change to an Internet giant like Google. By willfully violating the Commission’s orders, Google has managed to continue to hide the truth about Wi-Spy. Google wants everyone else’s information to be accessible, but in a demonstration of remarkable hypocrisy, stonewalls and keeps everything about itself secret.”

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Sergey Brin Pounds Fists Against Walled Gardens

By , TECHNEWSWORLD.COM

Monday, April 16, 2012

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"Whenever Google raises the cry of defending Internet freedom, it's always really about what's best for Google's business model," John Simpson, consumer advocate at Consumer Watchdog, told TechNewsWorld.

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Press Release

Consumer Watchdog Demands FCC Release Uncensored Google Wi-Spy Decision, Decries Internet Giant’s Hypocrisy For Deliberately Obstructing Investigation

CONTACT: , 310-392-0522 x317

Monday, April 16, 2012

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Consumer Watchdog Demands FCC Release Uncensored Google Wi-Spy Decision, Decries Internet Giant’s Hypocrisy For Deliberately Obstructing Investigation

SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog today demanded that the Federal Communications Commission release an uncensored version of its highly redacted decision to fine Google $25,000 for deliberately impeding and delaying its investigation of the Wi-Spy scandal.

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Industry, Privacy Advocates Offer Competing Views of ‘Do-Not-Track’

By , NATIONAL JOURNAL

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

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John Simpson with Consumer Watchdog, which along with Chester’s group and other privacy advocates is backing the EFF/Mozilla proposal, argues that the industry’s proposal “has so many loopholes it’s meaningless.”

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Reding: Google Privacy Policy Is Illegal

By , eWEEK.COM

Monday, March 5, 2012

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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.

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Google’s Privacy Rules Grow, But Do Protections?

By , SMARTMONEY BLOG - WSJ.COM

Thursday, March 1, 2012

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“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.“

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Bono Mack Plans Privacy Hearing

By , USA TODAY

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

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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.

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Five Privacy Groups Urge Congresswoman For Public Hearing On Google Changes

By , ZDNET.COM

Friday, February 24, 2012

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The letter was signed by Marc Rotenberg, executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), Jeffrey Chester, executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy (CDD), John Simpson, privacy policy director at Consumer Watchdog, Susan Grant, director of consumer protection at the Consumer Federation of America (CFA), and Ed Mierzwinski, consumer program director for the U.S. Public Interest Research Groups (PIRG).

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Press Release

Consumer Groups Say Commerce Subcommittee Should Hold Public Hearing on Google’s Privacy Plans, Not Closed-Door Briefing

CONTACT: , 310-392-7041

Friday, February 24, 2012

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Consumer Groups Say Commerce Subcommittee Should Hold Public Hearing on Google’s Privacy Plans, Not Closed-Door Briefing

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Five consumer and privacy groups today joined in sending a letter to the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade calling for public hearings on Google planned privacy changes, rather than a secret briefing.

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Privacy Advocates Want Strong Role in Crafting Industry Codes

By , TECH DAILY DOSE - NATIONAL JOURNAL

Thursday, February 23, 2012

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"The real question is how much influence companies like Google, Microsoft, Yahoo and Facebook will have in their inevitable attempt to water down the rules that are implemented and render them essentially meaningless. I am skeptical about the 'multi-stakeholder process', but am willing to make a good faith effort to try," John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog said in a statement.

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Press Release

White House Plan For Privacy Bill Of Rights Could Boost Protections, Consumer Watchdog Joins Groups Issuing Principles For Fair Process, Voices Some Concerns

CONTACT: , 310-392-7041

Thursday, February 23, 2012

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White House Plan For Privacy Bill Of Rights Could Boost Protections, Consumer Watchdog Joins Groups Issuing Principles For Fair Process, Voices Some Concerns

SANTA MONICA, CA – The Obama Administration's blueprint to protect online privacy with a "Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights" unveiled today could provide meaningful protections, Consumer Watchdog said, but warned that the test of its effectiveness will come as the implementation unfolds. The nonprofit, nonpartisan public interest group also voiced a concern that an announced Internet industry commitment to honor "Do Not Track" could be aimed at undercutting an effort by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to create a strict Do Not Track standard.

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Press Release

Consumer Watchdog Calls California ‘Apps’ Privacy Agreement A Step Forward, But Says Do Not Track Legislation Is Necessary To Protect Consumers

CONTACT: , 310-392-7041

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

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Consumer Watchdog Calls California ‘Apps’ Privacy Agreement A Step Forward, But Says Do Not Track Legislation Is Necessary To Protect Consumers

SANTA MONICA, CA – California Attorney General Kamala Harris’ agreement announced today committing the leading operators of mobile application platforms to require privacy policies for applications ("apps") is a step forward, Consumer Watchdog said, but in addition “Do Not Track” regulations must be implemented to fully protect consumers.

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Google Bypassed Apple Privacy Settings: Researcher

By , AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

Saturday, February 18, 2012

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"Google has clearly engaged in 'unfair and deceptive' practices," said Consumer Watchdog privacy project director John Simpson, Consumer Watchdog's Privacy Project director. "They have been lying about how people can protect their privacy in their instructions about how to opt out of receiving targeted advertising."

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