Tag Archive | "FTC"

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Google Forging Ahead With New Policy Despite More Objections; Fines Needed

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Tuesday, February 28, 2012

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Google Forging Ahead With New Policy Despite More Objections; Fines Needed

Google is forging ahead with its plan to launch its new privacy and data handling policies this Thursday despite objections from regulators on both sides of the Atlantic.

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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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Google Will Add Opt-Out Button To Its Browser

By , THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

Friday, February 24, 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," said John Simpson, privacy policy director of Consumer Watchdog, in a statement.

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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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Obama Administration Seeks Online Privacy Rules

By , ASSOCIATED PRESS

Thursday, February 23, 2012

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Consumer Watchdog, a nonprofit research and advocacy group in California, said the approach will work only if influential companies don’t water down the rules to render them meaningless. "I am skeptical about the ’multi-stakeholder process,’ but am willing to make a good-faith effort to try," said John M. Simpson, the group’s privacy project director. He’s referring to the various parties with competing interests tasked with making the rules.

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White House Looks to Nail Down Online Privacy Regulations

By , TECHNEWSWORLD.COM

Thursday, February 23, 2012

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A coalition of 11 consumer advocacy agencies and civil liberty and privacy organizations has responded by releasing a set of principles for the multi-stakeholder process. This "would ensure a fair process," John Simpson, consumer advocate at coalition member Consumer Watchdog, told TechNewsWorld.

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Consumer groups encouraged by ‘Consumer Bill of Rights’

By , CNET.COM

Thursday, February 23, 2012

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"The only problem with this, is that the W3C has yet to agree what 'Do Not Track' technical standards and compliance obligations will be," John Simpson, director of the advocacy group Consumer Watchdog said in a statement. "If the W3C standards are stricter than industry wants, I can't believe they will follow them. I hope not, but this may actually be an effort to undermine the W3C process."

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Will Congress make Obama’s Privacy Bill of Rights law?

By , THE LAST WATCHDOG BLOG - USA TODAY

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,” says John Simpson, spokesman for Consumer Watchdog. ” I am skeptical about the ‘multi-stakeholder process’, but am willing to make a good faith effort to try it.

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White House, Consumers in Mind, Offers Online Privacy Guidelines

By , THE NEW YORK TIMES

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,” John M. Simpson, privacy project director for Consumer Watchdog, said in response to the administration’s plan. "A concern is that the administration’s privacy effort is being run out of the Commerce Department.”

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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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