Archive | February, 2009
Podcast: Watchdog On Facebook’s Democratic Foray
Click here to listen to the podcast.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced on February 26 that, from now on, the company will post proposed changes to its terms of service and other policies for member input. CBS News and CNET Technology analyst Larry Magid discuss the move with Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog.
Continue reading...Facebook’s new democracy could challenge other web giants
27. February 2009
Facebook has taken the unusual step of allowing 30% of its members to
decide privacy policies. CBS News and CNET’s Larry Magid and I talked
the change over in this interview late last night.
Google Seeks Starvation Of Growling Watchdog
26. February 2009
(Semi-)Apology For Money-Snuffing Missive
San Francisco, CA — Google has attempted to cut the funding of a
well-known public watchdog, after the organization launched a
"guerrilla" attack on its Washington lobby operation.
Google Stays Mum On EHR Privacy Provisions Of Stimulus Bill
26. February 2009
Consumer Watchdog, a Washington D.C.-based consumer advocacy group,
said the additions were a victory for patient privacy rights activists. "Google and Microsoft and medical records companies are now accountable
in the way HIPAA providers are," Jamie Court, president of Consumer
Watchdog told The Industry Standard. "Heretofore these guys had no
accountability."
Google wants to get rid of watchdogs, no apologies
25. February 2009
When I walked into the Consumer Watchdog office today on a press conference seeking to protect benefits for autistic children, it occurred to me just what is so insidious about Google’s efforts to de-fund our consumer group.
Continue reading...Google Tries To Kibosh Funding Of Critic
25. February 2009
This week, it came to light that Google attempted to persuade a
foundation to stop funding Consumer Watchdog, Santa Monica, Calif.-based non-profit that
criticized the search giant for its privacy stance.
Well, That Wasn’t Very Googly
24. February 2009
Bob Boorstin, the director of Corporate and Policy Communications for Google, sent
a letter to the Rose Foundation blasting Consumer Watchdog, and, er,
asking that Rose defund them.
Google Watchdog Battle Heats Up
24. February 2009
Consumer Watchdog President Jamie Court wrote to Google CEO Eric
Schmidt Monday arguing that his top executives must "have more
important priorities than defunding a consumer group critical of your
lack of privacy protections." In the letter, he laid out some
observations about Google’s perceived "less than open corporate
culture, its opaque public policymaking division and some suggestions
for change and moving forward."
Privacy Watchdog Suffers Google’s Ire
23. February 2009
Search Giant Tries To Pull Consumer Watchdog’s Funding
The U.S. privacy and consumer protection group Consumer Watchdog today shot back at Google for allegedly trying to have its funding withdrawn.
Privacy Watchdog Condemns Google For Effort To Defund It: Calls For Greater Corporate Disclosure About Lobbying Efforts And Independent Privacy Chief
23. February 2009
Washington, DC — Consumer Watchdog President Jamie Court wrote
Google’s CEO Eric Schmidt today questioning the company’s priorities
following efforts by one of Google’s top executives to dissuade a
charitable foundation from supporting the nonpartisan group’s privacy
efforts.
27. February 2009