Tag Archive | "justice department"
Blog Post
Google’s Monopoly Power Raises More Concerns
Posted by John M. Simpson
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 Jay Greene , CNET.COM
Thursday, September 8, 2011
"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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Prosecutor says Larry Page knew Google was breaking the law
Posted by John M. Simpson
Monday, August 29, 2011
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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Google Shells Out $500M to DoJ Over Shady Drug Ads
By Erika Morphy , E-COMMERCE TIMES
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Google has agreed to a US$500 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice for allowing online Canadian pharmacies to place ads through its AdWords program targeting consumers in the United States.
Continue reading...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: John M. Simpson , 310-392-7041 or cell: 310-292-1902; or Carmen Balber, 202-629-3043
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
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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Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt to Testify Before Congress on Wi-Spy Scandal
By Alastair Stevenson , INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES
Monday, July 11, 2011
John M. Simpson, director of Consumer Watchdog's Privacy Project commented on the news, "A top Google executive will finally face serious questioning about the company's behavior."
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Google And The White House Too Chummy While Firm Under Investigation, Consumer Group Says
By Carla Marinucci , SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE SPIN CYCLE BLOG
Friday, July 8, 2011
A leading California consumer group has formally asked White House counsel to rule on the ethics of what it calls the Obama Administration's "inappropriate" outreach -- including State Dinner invites -- to head honchos of Google, a firm reportedly under criminal investigation by the Justice Department.
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FTC targets Google for antitrust probe
Posted by John M. Simpson
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Since April when Bloomberg News reported that the Federal Trade Commission was contemplating a full-blown antitrust investigation of Google, people who follow the Internet giant have been waiting for the other shoe to drop. It did on Thursday with the report in the Wall Street Journal that the five-member Commission is about to serve Google with civil subpoenas -- known as Civil Investigative Demands -- about its business practices.
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Google Says It Is Combating Illegal Ads
By Staff Writers , UPI (United Press International)
Friday, May 20, 2011
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., May 20 (UPI) — U.S. technology giant Google Inc. said it is taking a proactive stance against illegal advertising, the subject of a U.S. Justice Department probe. “Google has a natural long-term financial incentive to make sure that the advertisements we serve are trustworthy,” said company spokeswoman Diana Adair, The Washington Post [...]
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FCC Announces a Public Forum on Smartphone Location Tracking Systems
By Byron Acohido , USA TODAY
Thursday, May 19, 2011
John Simpson, spokesman for Consumer Watchdog, notes that the FCC is continuing an investigation into Google's past practice of sending fleets of specially equipped vehicles criss-crossing city streets in 30-plus nations to take photos for its mapping service -- and to collect data from Wi-Fi systems in homes and businesses.
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iPhone and Android Users Face Many Companies Who Want To Know Where They Are
By Troy Wolverton & Mike Swift, SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS
Sunday, May 1, 2011
A study by researchers at Intel Labs, Penn State and Duke University last year revealed that 15 of 30 popular Android apps send location data to advertisers — often without notifying users. “People don’t understand what’s going on with their data,” said John Simpson, director of consumer privacy at Consumer Watchdog. “It’s sort of being sucked up without their real knowledge.”
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Apple Finally Acknowledges Hidden Tracking File On iPhones
By Troy Wolverton , SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS
Thursday, April 28, 2011
"They're trying to quell an understandable storm of concern," said John Simpson, director of the privacy project at Consumer Watchdog, an advocacy group. But he added, "It sounds like they're going to continue doing a lot of stuff that is potentially problematic."
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Smartphone Privacy Fears Raised
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Still, the report on Google's data collection policy yesterday prompted advocacy group Consumer Watchdog, based in Washington, D.C., to ask for a law to ensure that phone users can choose not to be tracked. "These aren't smartphones, they are spy phones,'' said John Simpson, director of the group's privacy project.
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Consumer Watchdog’s Carmen Balber discusses Internet privacy and the need for an online “Do Not Track Me” list.
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Friday, September 9, 2011
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