litigation – Page 7 – Inside Google

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Web Tracking Has Become A Privacy Time Bomb

3. August 2011

Google has been widely known to scan the contents of Gmail messages to deliver targeted text ads. While some don’t mind, others believe scanning e-mail to deliver more relevant ads is an invasion of privacy. John Simpson, spokesman for the non-profit advocacy group Consumer Watchdog, isn’t convinced the search giant will necessarily stop there. “Part of the problem is that Google collects and stores tremendous amounts of data about its users,” Simpson says. “The only assurance we have about what Google’s intentions are boils down to ‘Trust us.'”

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Will Google’s Legal Woes Define How Far It Crossed The Creepy Line?

By Ms. Smith , NETWORKWORLD.COM

14. April 2011

Consumer Watchdog’s scorecard is full of “evil” tally marks against Google. Some claim that Microsoft is spreading FUD, but legal woes facing Google seem to disagree that Google hasn’t crossed creepy line.

Press Release

Consumer Watchdog Unveils California “Do Not Track Me” Plan & Challenges Google’s CEO Page, On First Day, To Prove Company’s New Direction By Supporting Privacy Plan

CONTACT: John M. Simpson

4. April 2011

SACRAMENTO, CA – Consumer Watchdog unveiled new landmark California legislation to allow consumers in the state to stop unwanted online tracking and, in a letter, challenged Google CEO Larry Page, in his first day on the job, to support the “Do Not Track Me” plan and demonstrate Google is moving in a new direction. The bill, SB 761, was introduced by Sen. Alan Lowenthal, D- Long Beach, and sponsored by Consumer Watchdog.

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Is Google’s Book Setback A Win For Consumers?

By Quentin Fottrell , SMARTMONEY.COM

23. March 2011

Google hasn’t exactly made life easy for itself by already scanning millions of books. John M. Simpson, director of the privacy project for the non-profit California-based Consumer Watchdog group, supports the digitization of the world’s books, but says, “Google’s entire business model is to never ask permission, but to seek forgiveness if necessary. Judge Chin has ruled simply that you can’t take other people’s property and use it without asking.”

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Judge Echoes Google Critics In Digital Book Ruling

By Michael Liedtke , ASSOCIATED PRESS

23. March 2011

“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.”

Press Release

Consumer Watchdog Praises Judge For Blocking Google Books Deal

CONTACT: John M. Simpson

22. March 2011

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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US Judge Rejects Deal For Google Digital Book Plan

By Charlotte Raab , AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

22. March 2011

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.”

Blog Post

Google Feels Heat On Shady Ads

Posted by John M. Simpson

16. March 2011

It took a lawsuit from Rosetta Stone, the language software company, and a Congressional hearing, but Google apparently has finally been embarrassed into taking responsibility for policing some shady ads on its search engine site.

News Clipping

Obama Slammed For Seeing Google’s Schmidt in Private

By Sara Yin , PCMAGAZINE.COM

18. February 2011

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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Watchdog Demands Transparency on Google’s Million Dollar Lobbying

By Matthew Finnegan , TECHEYE.NET

1. February 2011

Google has been called on to give greater transparency to its lobbying in Washington following its refusal to release details from a presentation that seeks to persuade governmental policy makers and regulators of its compliance to competitiveness rules. Consumer Watchdog, which describes itself as a nonprofit, nonpartisan, consumer advocacy organization, has called for the 89-page presentation, which will be shown during a forthcoming meeting, to be made public.

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