Inside Google

Press Release

Is Google Burning Its Brand?

CONTACT: Erik Sherman

The recent incident involved a privacy group called Consumer Watchdog.
The organization and Google have had a history of run-ins. Consumer
Watchdog has been critical of Google in terms of privacy, and has been
aggressive at times in publicly challenging the search giant, as can be
seen in this video ironically documented on YouTube, which is owned by
Google.

White House website cuts tie to Google’s YouTube

John M. Simpson

In the face of criticism from privacy advocates, the White House website apparently has ended its ties to Google’s YouTube video service.

Podcast: Watchdog On Facebook’s Democratic Foray

Larry Magid

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.

Facebook’s new democracy could challenge other web giants

Jamie Court

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

Cade Metz

(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

Sindya Bhanoo

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

Jamie Court

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.

Google Tries To Kibosh Funding Of Critic

Wendy Davis

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

Nicholas Thompson

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

Tech Daily Dose Staff

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."