Inside Google

Blog Post

Google Ending Privacy Breach Consumer Watchdog Targeted In FTC Complaint

Posted by John M. Simpson

Google apparently is ending an egregious privacy breach involving people who buy apps from its Google Play store using Google Wallet to pay. Consumer Watchdog filed a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission with a copy to California Attorney General Kamala Harris about what Google was doing. The complaint alleged that the Internet giant was violating its privacy policies and its "Buzz" consent agreement with the FTC.

Google Ruling Shows Need For Do Not Track And Strong Antitrust Action

John M. Simpson

A federal judge's ruling late Friday in a key privacy case demonstrates the need to implement tough "Do Not Track" rules and to take decisive action on the antitrust front against Google.

Blog Post

Pressure Mounts Against Google for Its Anticompetitive Behavior

Posted by John M. Simpson

Signs that Google will soon face strong antitrust action on both sides of the Atlantic are increasing with a report Thursday from Bloomberg News Service that the the Federal Trade Commission staff has recommended that the Internet giant be sued for unfairly blocking competitors' access to smartphone-technology patents.

News Clipping

Consumer Watchdog: Google’s Safari-Hack Settlement Not In Public Interest

By Wendy Davis , ONLINE MEDIA DAILY

Consumer Watchdog challenges that $4 million figure. "The government has not given this court any insight into how it made its calculations," the organization argues, adding that it needs more evidence from Google in order to determine the extent of profits from the workaround.

News Clipping

Privacy Bill of Rights Would Face Uncertainty Under Romney Presidency, Observers Say

By Alexei Alexis , BLOOMBERG BNA

“I think Romney would let the effort die,” said John Simpson, privacy project director for Consumer Watchdog, a Washington-based public interest group. “He's an advocate of less regulation on business, so I don't see much hope that he would be would be concerned about privacy.”

News Clipping

Court Will Reconsider Google’s Safari Privacy Deal

By Martyn Williams , PCWORLD.COM

While the FTC and Google came up with the settlement, it needs to be approved by a judge, which is what next month's hearing is about. Consumer Watchdog, an advocacy group that has been critical of Google's privacy measures, will argue that the court should not sign off on the deal.

News Clipping

Microsoft Expands Gathering and Use of Data From Web Products

By Edward Wyatt , THE NEW YORK TIMES

''What Microsoft is doing is no different from what Google did,'' said John M. Simpson, who monitors privacy policy for Consumer Watchdog, a California nonprofit group. ''It allows the combination of data across services in ways a user wouldn't reasonably expect. Microsoft wants to be able to compile massive digital dossiers about users of its services and monetize them.''

Press Release

Google, Oracle Of Transparency, Gets Caught By Transparency; Consumer Watchdog Says Earnings Report Glitch Should Be Wake Up Call For Online Privacy

CONTACT: John M. Simpson , 310-392-7041

SANTA MONICA, CA -- Consumer Watchdog urged the founders of Google to take today's early leak of financial information -- which caused Google to ask to suspend trading in its stock -- as a wake up call for the billionaire executives and prompt them to support giving Google users the right to suspend trading in their own private information.

News Clipping

Google Razzle Dazzles With Data Center Display

By Richard Adhikari , TECHNEWSWORLD.COM

"Putting a data center on Street View is a gimmick," Consumer Watchdog's John M. Simpson told TechNewsWorld. "It doesn't reveal anything meaningful about how Google does business. Google says it wants to organize the world's information and make it more accessible but, when it comes to its own information and procedures, the company remains a black box."

News Clipping

Google Privacy Policy Changes Pressed For By EU Board

By Kevin Shalvey , INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY

John Simpson, of Consumer Watchdog, a group critical of Google, says in a statement that Google acted with "complete disregard" for users' privacy. "I am glad the European Union is calling out their abuses, but am disappointed that American consumers must look across the Atlantic to see privacy rights defended," Simpson said.

News Clipping

Drive Toward Autonomous Cars Shouldn’t Be So Automatic, Critics Warn

By Erik Derr , WARDS AUTO.COM

Consumer privacy also is at risk through the new legislation, says John Simpson, privacy project supervisor for the nonprofit advocacy group Consumer Watchdog. California’s new driverless-auto law “gives the user no control over what data will be gathered and how the information will be used,” Simpson tells WardsAuto. “That’s where we have a problem.”

News Clipping

You Have No Privacy. Get Over It

By Graeme Burton , COMPUTING

"Google has demonstrated an ability to out-maneuver government regulators repeatedly and ride roughshod over the privacy rights of consumers. Google continues to be disingenuous about its practices," says John Simpson, privacy project director at US organization Consumer Watchdog.

News Clipping

Google’s Driverless Car Raises Safety And Privacy Concerns

By Mark Kimmich , COLLISION REPAIR MAG.COM

Santa Monica, California -- October 1, 2012 -- Last week, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a driverless car law into effect at a ceremony at Google’s headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. According to advocacy group Consumer Watchdog, the law poses threats to safety and privacy.