Tag Archive | "going to court"

Press Release

Consumer Watchdog Urges Senator Kohl To Recall Google’s Schmidt As Witness After Executive Calls Government Slow And Stupid In Interview

CONTACT: , 310-392-0075; John M. Simpson, 310-392-7041; Carmen Balber, 202-629-3043

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

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Consumer Watchdog Urges Senator Kohl To Recall Google’s Schmidt As Witness After Executive Calls Government Slow And Stupid In Interview

Washington, DC – Consumer Watchdog today took Google's Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt to task today over remarks made to The Washington Post in which he claimed Google should not be the subject of antitrust review because its services are "free" and made derogatory remarks about government officials being slow, backward and greedy.

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Press Release

Consumer Watchdog’s New Animated Video Satirizes Google Executives And Challenges Google’s Information Monopoly On Eve of Schmidt’s Senate Testimony

CONTACT: , 202-629-3043; John M. Simpson, cell: 310-292-1902

Monday, September 19, 2011

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Consumer Watchdog’s New Animated Video Satirizes Google Executives And Challenges Google’s Information Monopoly On Eve of Schmidt’s Senate Testimony

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Consumer Watchdog’s latest online animated video debuted today, satirizing Google CEO Larry Page and Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt to dramatize Google’s information monopoly and make the case for Do Not Track Legislation. The video, “Supercharge,” exposes actual quotes by the executives and shows the two Google executives stalking a United States Senator through the signal in his Android mobile phone.

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Press Release

Consumer Watchdog Praises Justice Department For Forcing Google’s $500 Million Forfeiture Over Illegal Ads; Settlement Represents Only Tip Of Iceberg, Group Says

CONTACT: , 310-392-7041 or cell: 310-292-1902; or Carmen Balber, 202-629-3043

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

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Consumer Watchdog Praises Justice Department For Forcing Google’s $500 Million Forfeiture Over Illegal Ads; Settlement Represents Only Tip Of Iceberg, Group Says

SANTA MONICA, CA -- Consumer Watchdog praised the U.S. Justice Department today for forcing Google to forfeit $500 million because it allowed illegal drug ads through its AdWords program, but said the problem of predatory and deceptive advertising on the Internet giant's services continues. Further enforcement action by regulators is needed, the group said.

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News Clipping

Judge Echoes Google Critics In Digital Book Ruling

By , ASSOCIATED PRESS

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

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"Google has built a monopoly in search, and having a monopoly isn't necessarily illegal," said John Simpson, a frequent Google critic who has been following the company's business practices for the advocacy group Consumer Watchdog. "The question is once you are in a monopoly position, how do you use it? I think Google has repeatedly abused it, and that come out in this decision."

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Press Release

Consumer Watchdog Praises Judge For Blocking Google Books Deal

CONTACT: , 310-392-7041; or cell: 310-292-1902

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

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Consumer Watchdog Praises Judge For Blocking Google Books Deal

Decision Sends Message Google Must Ask Permission Before Using Others' Property SANTA MONICA, CA — Consumer Watchdog praised Federal Judge Denny Chin today for rejecting the Google Books settlement and added that Google should finally learn it cannot usurp and exploit other people’s work and information without first asking permission. The decision also raised serious antitrust issues, the nonpartisan, nonprofit group noted.

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News Clipping

US Judge Rejects Deal For Google Digital Book Plan

By , AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

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John Simpson of settlement opponent Consumer Watchdog said the ruling "should send the message to the engineers at the Googleplex that the next time they want to use someone's intellectual property, they need to ask permission."

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News Clipping

Google’s Tarnished Chrome

By , NATIONAL JOURNAL

Friday, March 11, 2011

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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.

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News Clipping

Obama Slammed For Seeing Google’s Schmidt in Private

By , PCMAGAZINE.COM

Friday, February 18, 2011

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Consumer Watchdog, one of the more harshest critics of Google's dominance on the Internet, said it was "inappropriate" for the president to meet Schmidt in private while the search engine giant is being scrutinized by various U.S. government departments.

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Press Release

Consumer Watchdog Calls On FTC To Enact Do Not Track, Says Force Of Law Needed

CONTACT: , 310-392-7041 & Carmen Balber, 202-629-3043

Friday, February 18, 2011

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Consumer Watchdog Calls On FTC To Enact Do Not Track, Says Force Of Law Needed

WASHINGTON, DC — Consumer Watchdog today called on the Federal Trade Commission to create a “Do Not Track Me” mechanism to protect consumers’ online privacy and added that such a mechanism must have the force of law behind it.

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News Clipping

Google Spent More on Lobbyists in 2010 Than Yahoo, Facebook & Apple Combined

By , MASHABLE.COM

Monday, January 31, 2011

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Google’s increasing monetary dedication to influencing policy decisions worries some privacy advocates who oppose the company’s policies. “It’s a huge increase and shows that Google has become a high-stakes influence peddler throwing its weight around Washington like the rest of corporate America,” says John Simpson, a privacy advocate with Consumer Watchdog, a group that regularly opposes Google’s decisions.

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News Clipping

Google Won’t Be Taken To Court Over Data Gather

By , AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Monday, January 31, 2011

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Consumer Watchdog, a group which has been highly critical of Google's privacy practices, condemned the agreement to settle the issue through negotiations and called for congressional hearings on the subject.

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Press Release

Consumer Watchdog Calls On Google To End Secrecy As Lobbying Hits $5.2 Million

CONTACT: , 310-392-7041; or cell: 310-292-1902

Monday, January 31, 2011

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Consumer Watchdog Calls On Google To End Secrecy As Lobbying Hits $5.2 Million

SANTA MONICA, CA — Consumer Watchdog today called on Google to end the secrecy surrounding its lobbying efforts in Washington after the Internet giant refused to release an 89-page presentation it is showing to policymakers and regulators in the nation’s capital. The call came as the Internet giant’s lobbying spending soared to $5.2 million in 2010 from $4.03 million in 2009.

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News Clipping

Google Reaches Agreement With Connecticut AG Over Wi-Spy

By , THEHILL.COM - HILLCON VALLEY BLOG

Sunday, January 30, 2011

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Frequent Google critic Consumer Watchdog blasted the announcement and repeated its call for outgoing Google CEO Eric Schmidt to explain the incident to lawmakers. “The details of the biggest privacy breach in history shouldn’t be settled in secret,” said John Simpson, director of Consumer Watchdog’s Inside Google Project. “This makes it clear why Google CEO Eric Schmidt needs to testify under oath before Congress about Wi-Spy.”

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