Inside Google

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

By Christian Blauvelt , ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY POPWATCH BLOG

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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Facebook Critics Hope IPO Forces Some Hard Questions

By Niraj Chokshi , NATIONAL JOURNAL

"It's hard to predict exactly what sort of gaffe they’ll do next, but it would not surprise me if there is yet another one," said John Simpson, director of Consumer Watchdog’s Privacy Project, noting some concerns over Facebook’s recent expansion of its Timeline feature, which makes it easier to visualize, share, and view users’ profile history.

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Q4 2011 Lobbying Report Shows Google Spending Skyrocketed

By Adam Bender & Tim Warren, COMMUNICATIONS DAILY

Consumer Watchdog condemned the increased lobbying by web services. Google "has abandoned its idealistic 'Don't Be Evil' roots and has bought into Washington's corrupt 'cash and carry' political system," the consumer group said. "Facebook, relatively new to the Washington lobbying scene, now appears headed down the same morally bankrupt path as Google," Consumer Watchdog said. Facebook declined to respond. Google didn't answer a request for comment.

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Feds Shut Down Mortgage Scammers Who Used Google Ads

By Jay Greene , CNET.COM

One Google critic, the public advocacy firm, Consumer Watchdog, wants Google held accountable. It put out a report in February blasting Google for taking these fraudulent ads. They suggest that Google be fined in order to help compensate the victims of these scams.

Press Release

Consumer Watchdog Calls On Google To Donate Tainted Revenue From Deceptive Online Ads It Published As Feds Shut Down 85 Mortgage Modification Scammers

CONTACT: John M. Simpson , 310-392-0522, x317

SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog today called on Google to donate the tainted revenue it received from deceptive ads preying on vulnerable homeowners to non-profit groups that help consumers with credit problems, including homeowners seeking to avoid foreclosure. The mortgage modification scams were first revealed in a Consumer Watchdog report last February.

Is Google following Microsoft’s evil path?

John M. Simpson

Has Google taken a page from Microsoft's evil history and started using the same anticompetitive tactics that landed the Redmond, WA., software company in antitrust trouble in the U.S. and Europe? A exclusive report in The New York Post says that's exactly what the Federal Trade Commission is considering in its major antitrust investigation of the Internet giant.

Press Release

Consumer Watchdog Calls Google’s Explanation For Its Record $5.9 Million Lobbying Spending ‘Disingenuous Bafflegab’

CONTACT: John M. Simpson , 310-392-7041, or cell: 310-292-1902; or Jamie Court, 310-392-0075

“The fact is the company is facing a well-deserved antitrust investigation by the Federal Trade Commission and wants to escape any consequences for its anti-competitive behavior,” said John M. Simpson, director of Consumer Watchdog’s Privacy Project. “They’ve got billions in profits stashed in off-shore tax havens and are pressing for a tax-holiday to bring it into the United States.”

Press Release

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

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

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 Greg Sandoval , CNET.COM

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.

Press Release

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

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

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 Juliana Gruenwald , NATIONAL JOURNAL - TECH DAILY DOSE

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..

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

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 Jay Greene , CNET.COM

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."