Inside Google

Blog Post

Google Ending Privacy Breach Consumer Watchdog Targeted In FTC Complaint

Posted by John M. Simpson

Google apparently is ending an egregious privacy breach involving people who buy apps from its Google Play store using Google Wallet to pay. Consumer Watchdog filed a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission with a copy to California Attorney General Kamala Harris about what Google was doing. The complaint alleged that the Internet giant was violating its privacy policies and its "Buzz" consent agreement with the FTC.

Blog Post

EU’s Google Antitrust Deal Beats FTC, But Still Doesn’t Do Enough

Posted by John M. Simpson

Details of Google's proposed settlement with the European Union to avoid antitrust charges have been leaking out of Brussels over the weekend. And while EU competition authorities appear to have accomplished more that the gentle tap on the wrist meted out by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, the deal as so far revealed doesn't do enough to end Google's anti-competitive practices.

Blog Post

Google’s Privacy Chief Is Stepping Down

Posted by John M. Simpson

Google's privacy chief, Alma Whitten, is stepping down the Internet giant confirmed Monday. Since word of her departure came out on April Fools' Day many folks probably thought this was part of the company's annual elaborate pranks like its "announcement" of a new service called "Google Nose."

Companies Press European Antitrust Regulators To Act Against Google

John M. Simpson

Eleven Internet Companies are pressing European antitrust regulators to take strong action against Google so that the Internet giant's smaller rivals aren't hurt. And what happens across the pond in this case could have an impact on possible antitrust action in the United States.

Europe’s Antitrust Chief Talks Tough On Google

John M. Simpson

Google may have only received a tap on the wrist from the Federal Trade Commission when the agency closed the U.S. antitrust investigation without taking action against the Internet giant for skewing search results to favor its services, but it's looking increasingly likely that Google will face strong action on the other side of the Atlantic.

Google Ruling Shows Need For Do Not Track And Strong Antitrust Action

John M. Simpson

A federal judge's ruling late Friday in a key privacy case demonstrates the need to implement tough "Do Not Track" rules and to take decisive action on the antitrust front against Google.

Blog Post

Google Gets Antitrust Ultimatum From FTC

Posted by John M. Simpson

Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz has given Google what Bloomberg News Service describes as an ultimatum to settle the agency's antitrust investigation in the next few days or face a lawsuit.

Blog Post

Google’s Dominance Sparks Fear, Draws Antitrust Concerns

Posted by John M. Simpson

A weekend New York Times article puts a clear focus on the issues that are drawing antitrust regulators to focus on the Internet giant’s anticompetitive practices. Written by Steve Lohr and Clair Cain Miller the article, Google Casts a Big Shadow on Smaller Web Sites, explains what’s going on: Regulators in the United States and [...]

Blog Post

Pressure Mounts Against Google for Its Anticompetitive Behavior

Posted by John M. Simpson

Signs that Google will soon face strong antitrust action on both sides of the Atlantic are increasing with a report Thursday from Bloomberg News Service that the the Federal Trade Commission staff has recommended that the Internet giant be sued for unfairly blocking competitors' access to smartphone-technology patents.

News Clipping

Consumer Watchdog: Google’s Safari-Hack Settlement Not In Public Interest

By Wendy Davis , ONLINE MEDIA DAILY

Consumer Watchdog challenges that $4 million figure. "The government has not given this court any insight into how it made its calculations," the organization argues, adding that it needs more evidence from Google in order to determine the extent of profits from the workaround.

News Clipping

Court Will Reconsider Google’s Safari Privacy Deal

By Martyn Williams , PCWORLD.COM

While the FTC and Google came up with the settlement, it needs to be approved by a judge, which is what next month's hearing is about. Consumer Watchdog, an advocacy group that has been critical of Google's privacy measures, will argue that the court should not sign off on the deal.

Press Release

Google, Oracle Of Transparency, Gets Caught By Transparency; Consumer Watchdog Says Earnings Report Glitch Should Be Wake Up Call For Online Privacy

CONTACT: John M. Simpson , 310-392-7041

SANTA MONICA, CA -- Consumer Watchdog urged the founders of Google to take today's early leak of financial information -- which caused Google to ask to suspend trading in its stock -- as a wake up call for the billionaire executives and prompt them to support giving Google users the right to suspend trading in their own private information.

News Clipping

Google Razzle Dazzles With Data Center Display

By Richard Adhikari , TECHNEWSWORLD.COM

"Putting a data center on Street View is a gimmick," Consumer Watchdog's John M. Simpson told TechNewsWorld. "It doesn't reveal anything meaningful about how Google does business. Google says it wants to organize the world's information and make it more accessible but, when it comes to its own information and procedures, the company remains a black box."