Santa Monica, CA — Consumer Watchdog today praised a group of 37 state attorneys general for seeking to get to the bottom of the Google Wi-Spy scandal and reiterated its call for the House Energy and Commerce Committee to hold hearings on the issue.
Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal sent a tough letter to the Internet giant asking whether Google had tested its software before use and demanding the company identify the individuals responsible for the Wi-Spy snooping code.
Blumenthal said the group would take appropriate steps — “including potential legal action if warranted” — to get answers.
“The action by the state AGs is welcome news, but it’s long past time for Congress to hold a hearing on the issue,” said John M. Simpson, consumer advocate with Consumer Watchdog. “Just as the CEO of BP was asked to explain the Gulf Oil spill to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, so should Google CEO Eric Schmidt be required testify about the gross intrusion into consumers’ privacy that is Wi-Spy.”
Read Blumenthal’s letter to Google here.
Consumer Watchdog first called for the State Attorney General to investigate in a letter to the National Association of Attorneys General on June 2.
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Consumer Watchdog, formerly the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights is a nonprofit, nonpartisan consumer advocacy organization with offices in Washington, DC and Santa Monica, Ca. Consumer Watchdog’s website is http://www.ConsumerWatchdog.org. Visit our new Google Privacy and Accountability Project website: http://insidegoogle.com
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 at 9:54 am