Inside Google

Twitter Breach Revives Security Issues With Cloud Computing

Jaikumar Vijayan

Concerns are the same as with any outsourcing, remote data access, IT managers say.

Consumer Watchdog group said the Twitter incident raises the question
of whether "Google’s cloud as offered provides adequate safeguards."
Moving medical and health-related records, and information on domestic
and sexual assault and substance abuse to Google raises concerns over
how such sensitive data will be protected, the group wrote in a letter
addressed to City Council members. "Before jumping into the Google deal, the City Council needs to insist
on appropriate guarantees — for instance substantial financial
penalties in the event of any security breach," John Simpson, a
consumer advocate for the group wrote.

Online behavioral advertising opt-out procedures misleading

John M. Simpson

Earlier this month  the Network Advertising Initiative (NIA), a trade association that includes some of the biggest online advertising companies like Google, Yahoo!, Microsoft…

Press Release

Warning issued on Google Books privacy threat

CONTACT: John M. Simpson

Much of the focus on the proposed Google Books settlement has been on antitrust concerns….

Press Release

Heat is on Google, so it ups lobbying spending 30%

CONTACT: John M. Simpson

What do you do if you’re a gargantuan Internet company that’s come under increased scrutiny, despite your "Don’t-be-evil" mantra?  Send in the…

L.A. delays consideration of Google email plan

John M. Simpson

Consideration of a proposal to move the City of Los Angles’ email and other computer applications to a system run by…

L.A. needs assurances before moving to Google’s ‘cloud’

John M. Simpson

Frustrated by an out-of-date email system that Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s spokesman Matt Szabo calls "Pac-Man-era technology" the City of Los Angeles is considering entrusting…

Google Is Faulted On Privacy

Holly Sanders Ware

A group critical of Google’s privacy practices got a jump on the search giant yesterday. Consumer Watchdog, which accuses Google of spying on users, sent out an
alert early yesterday claiming it had obtained a "confidential" and
"proprietary" document that the company had intended for lawmakers.

Google snips ‘confidential’ label from lobbying doc after criticism

Judy Dugan

Google probably thought it was being subtle and sly. Just after
Consumer Watchdog obtained and released Google’s new "confidential"
lobbying document, Google posted the same document, stripped of its "confidential" and "proprietary" labels, as an example of its public transparency. 

Google Posts Advertising ‘Spin Document’ Online

Jason Linkins

Well, it’s a good nod to almost-transparency, anyway. But just so you remember: Google would have preferred you not see these materials at all! And Consumer Watchdog President Jamie Court remains concerned…

Secret Google Presentation Defends Invasive Behavioral Ads

Carmen Balber

Consumer Watchdog Releases Satirical Annotated Version, Says Cyber-Spying Should Raise Lawmaker Alarms Over Internet Giant’s New ‘Net-based Operating System