Tag Archive | "justice department"

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One Privacy Policy To Rule Them All: What Google’s Controversial New Terms of Service Could Mean To You

By , ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY POPWATCH BLOG

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

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Consumer Watchdog’s John Simpson points out that personalized advertisements targeted directly to a specific user, based on user-collected information, can be “a substantial amount” more lucrative than just an anonymous ad. And with all the information Google can collect about your interests from your searches, your Google Docs, and your favorite YouTube videos, they can figure out pretty specifically what ads they should show you. “They are positioning this as streamlining privacy,” Simpson says. “But that’s just PR. It’s all about better targeting for advertisers.”

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Privacy Advocates Fiercely Furrow Brows at Google

By , TECHNEWSWORLD.COM

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

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The announcement of the changes sparked concern among privacy watchdogs both in the United States and the European Union. "Consumers' online privacy is being eroded," growled John Simpson, a consumer advocate at Consumer Watchdog.

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Privacy Groups Hoping Study Prompts Action

By , NATIONAL JOURNAL

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

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“This study proves that personally identifiable information is regularly shared without consumers’ knowledge,” Consumer Watchdog’s John Simpson told a forum on Tuesday. “We can’t rely on industry promises to protect consumer privacy; clearly, we need do-not-track legislation, and we need it now.”

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Consumer Watchdog Asks Senator Kohl To Recall Google’s Schmidt As Witness

By , TECH PROGRESS BLOG

Friday, October 7, 2011

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Noting (as I did on Monday) that Schmidt had basically recanted his contrite testimony before Congress in basically calling the government slow and stupid in a Washington Post interview, Consumer Watchdog said in a letter to Senate chairman Herb Kohl that Schmidt should be recalled to testify by the Senate Antitrust Subcommittee...

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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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Mimes Aren’t Silent in Capital Hill Attack on Google

By , CNET.COM

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

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Consumer Watchdog says that privacy and Google's ability to pry into the lives of anyone is a growing concern among the public. Colleague Jay Greene wrote that this week the group's primary concern is that Google is gathering a huge trove of personal information, much of it without consumers' knowledge and consumers are powerless to stop it.

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Press Release

Consumer Watchdog Asks Senate Panel To Explore Breakup of Google; Asks FTC to Open Inquiry Into Deceptive Mortgage Advertisements

CONTACT: , 310-403-0284 (cell) or 202-629-3043; John M. Simpson, 310-292-1902 (cell); Jamie Court, 310-392-0522 x327

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

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Consumer Watchdog Asks Senate Panel To Explore Breakup of Google; Asks FTC to Open Inquiry Into Deceptive Mortgage Advertisements

WASHINGTON, DC – Consumer Watchdog today told a Senate committee that Google’s reach is so pervasive on the Internet that consumers cannot avoid its massive data collection apparatus. The public interest group said one possible remedy is breaking up the Internet giant, which exercises monopoly power over search and consumer data. Do Not Track regulations are necessary to protect consumers from the Internet giant’s pervasive data collection.

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Consumer Watchdog Channeling Marcel Marceau

By , NATIONAL JOURNAL - TECH DAILY DOSE

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

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Consumer Watchdog plans to deploy a group of mimes wearing white track suits emblazoned with Google's "Don't Be Evil" motto Wednesday, just as Google Chairman Eric Schmidt is set to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The mimes will mercilessly track senators and their staffers as they move through the Dirksen Senate office building..

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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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Political Theater Will Follow Google’s Schmidt to D.C.

By , CNET.COM

Sunday, September 18, 2011

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While there are plenty of groups worried about Internet privacy, few have gone to the lengths of Consumer Watchdog, which relishes its role as a thorn in Google's side. In addition to the videos, the group has sponsored conferences, written editorials, and taken out ads, all aimed at focusing a spotlight on Google's conduct. Its primary concern is that Google is gathering a huge trove of personal information, much of it without consumers' knowledge. Worse still, according to the group, is that consumers are powerless to stop it. Consumer Watchdog's Court refers to the data that Google is able to amass as "an information monopoly."

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Blog Post

Google’s Monopoly Power Raises More Concerns

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Friday, September 9, 2011

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Google’s Monopoly Power Raises More Concerns

More examples of Google’s powerful grip on the Internet surfaced this week and its acquisition of the venerable restaurant reviewer, Zagat, raised new concern about how the Internet giant will use its monopoly power in the future. Being a monopoly is not in itself illegal. If you developed the position naturally without breaking any laws, [...]

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Does Google Want to Own or Organize Information?

By , CNET.COM

Thursday, September 8, 2011

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"This is exactly why Google is on the hot seat for antitrust," said Consumer Watchdog President Jamie Court, an activist and frequent thorn in Google side. "This is when the search engine becomes the find engine."

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Blog Post

Prosecutor says Larry Page knew Google was breaking the law

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Monday, August 29, 2011

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Prosecutor says Larry Page knew Google was breaking the law

It became clear over the weekend why Google agreed to a whopping $500 million settlement with the Justice Department to end criminal charges that it aided in the sale of illegal drugs from Canada. Co-founder and CEO Larry Page knew that the Internet giant was breaking the law.

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