Tag Archive | "justice department"
Google CEO Eric Schmidt Resigns From Apple’s Board
Google CEO Eric Schmidt's resignation today from Apple's board underscored that it when comes to business, competition is thicker than friendship. Meanwhile, a consumer group, Consumer Watchdog, on Monday called on Genentech Board Chairman Arthur Levinson, who sits on the boards of Google and Apple, to quit one of them to avoid antitrust violations. In addition to conflicts that could arise from sitting on the boards of competing companies, Genentech is an investor with Google in the genetic testing company 23andMe run by Anne Wojcicki, wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin.
Continue reading...U.S. FTC To Press On With Apple-Google Board Probe
Monday, August 3, 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Federal Trade Commission said it will continue to investigate the relationship between the boards of Apple Inc. and Google Inc., after Google's chief, Eric Schmidt, quit Apple's board on Monday. A consumer rights group criticized Schmidt for taking too long to leave Apple's board, and called on former Genentech CEO Arthur Levinson to choose either Apple or Google. "Nonetheless, we're glad Schmidt finally did the right thing," Consumer Watchdog said in a statement. "We call on Levinson to act responsibly and choose one company or the other."
Continue reading...Consumer Watchdog Calls On Genetech Exec To Quit Either Google Or Apple Board
Monday, August 3, 2009
Santa Monica, CA -- Genentech Board Chairman Arthur D. Levinson should quit as a director of either Internet giant Google or Apple to avoid antitrust violations, Consumer Watchdog said today, following the resignation of Eric Schmidt from the Apple board. The call from the nonprofit, nonpartisan consumer group came after the announcement that Google Chairman and Chief Executive Eric Schmidt, who held the same dual role, was stepping down from Apple’s board. The Federal Trade Commission has been investigating for several months whether Apple and Google had violated antitrust laws by sharing two directors.
Continue reading...Microsoft-Yahoo Deal Faces Moderate Antitrust Scrutiny, Say Experts
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Microsoft and Yahoo finally tied the knot, but they signed an expansive pre-nup to limit antitrust scrutiny. Vocal Google critic Consumer Watchdog didn't denounce the deal outright, noting that "some have suggested" that the tie-up may increase competition against Google. But the Microsoft-Yahoo deal is a chance for regulators to "set to the gold standard for privacy guarantees by Internet companies and for the government to use its leverage to obtain it," it said. Consumer Watchdog's John Simpson said the FTC should take a strong lead on privacy matters. "If the result of this deal is that there are two stronger Internet search enterprises who exploit users' data at the expense of their privacy rights, consumers are worse off, not better," he said. "Justice and the FTC can -- and must -- insist on this."
Continue reading...Consumer Advocates Exhort DOJ, FTC To Scrutinize Microsoft-Yahoo Deal
Thursday, July 30, 2009
John Simpson, an advocate with non-profit group Consumer Watchdog, also said the Microhoo deal must be closely scrutinized by the Federal Trade Commission, the Justice Department and the European Commission to ensure that there are no antitrust violations and that user privacy is guaranteed. "If the result of this deal is that there are two stronger Internet search enterprises who exploit users' data at the expense of their privacy rights, consumers are worse off, not better," said Simpson. "Users must have control of their data—whether it is collected and how it is used. Guarantees of that control must be in place before this deal is approved. Justice and the FTC can—and must—insist on this."
Continue reading...Microsoft, Yahoo Finally Sign Search Deal
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Microsoft and Yahoo clearly are bracing for regulatory scrutiny. The news release emphasized that the two companies will "continue to compete vigorously" in other areas, including e-mail, instant messaging and display advertising. It also stressed that the agreement restricts the sharing of search and other data. Consumer Watchdog in Washington, D.C., called on the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission to probe the deal for potential antitrust violations and privacy concerns.
Continue reading...Consumer Watchdog Calls On Feds To Get User Privacy And Antitrust Guarantees In Proposed Microsoft-Yahoo! Deal
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Santa Monica CA -- The proposed 10-year partnership on Internet search and search advertising between Microsoft and Yahoo! must be closely scrutinized by the Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department to ensure there are no antitrust violations and that user privacy is guaranteed, Consumer Watchdog said today.
Continue reading...Secret Google Presentation Defends Invasive Behavioral Ads
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Consumer Watchdog Releases Satirical Annotated Version, Says Cyber-Spying Should Raise Lawmaker Alarms Over Internet Giant’s New ‘Net-based Operating System
Continue reading...News Clipping
Consumer Watchdog Takes On Google As Lawmakers Mull Data Privacy Regulation
By Jason Linkins HUFFINGTON POST
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Consumer Watchdog -- which, as the name implies is a consumer watchdog organization -- is raising alarms over privacy concerns that have been brought to the fore as online search company Google engages in wheeling and dealing before the House Communications and Consumer Protection Subcommittee.
Continue reading...DOJ Launches Formal Investigation Into Google Book Search Settlement
Friday, July 3, 2009
The Department of Justice confirms its investigation into whether Google's $125 million Book Search settlement violates U.S. antitrust laws. Opponents fear the agreement gives the search engine giant too much power in the digital book world. The fairness hearing is set for Oct. 7, 2009. "The fact that the Justice Department decided to formally notify the judge in the Google Book Search class action settlement that it is investigating the deal is an important development," consumer advocate for Consumer Watchdog John Simpson said in an e-mail to eWEEK.
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Monday, August 3, 2009
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