Inside Google

Google Recruiting Data Privacy ‘Ninjas’

Brandon Bailey

“If this is a new emphasis on privacy, that would be a good thing,” added John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog, an advocacy group that has criticized Google for its privacy practices.

Google Beefing Up Privacy Swat Team

John P Mello Jr

The search giant has posted a job notice for a data privacy engineer for its privacy “red team.”

Consumer Watchdog Opposes Google’s FTC Accord – Wants A Stiffer Penalty

Dave Neal

GOOGLE’S $22.5m settlement with the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over privacy breaches will be challenged if Consumer Watchdog gets its way. The organisation has filed a motion (PDF) in US District Court and asked for the right to oppose the FTC settlement with Google that it thought was rather cheap.

Consumer Group Asks FCC To Require More 4G Disclosure

Hayley Tsukayama

Consumer advocate group Consumer Watchdog is asking the Federal Communications Commission to require carriers to list the speed of their 4G networks in advertisements and at the point of sale.

FTC, Google Settlement: Consumer Watchdog Files Motion in U.S. District Court Opposing Agreement

Bary Alyssa Johnson

Consumer Watchdog, a non-profit consumer advocacy organization is up in arms over a recent settlement between Google and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over the search giant’s privacy practices. The organization has filed a motion in U.S. District Court asking for allowance to oppose the settlement because it has been deemed too lenient a punishment for Google’s actions.

Consumer Watchdog Asks FCC to Require Cell Phone Companies to Disclose Data Speeds; Group Cites Widespread Misleading ‘4G’ Claims

John M. Simpson

WASHINGTON D.C. — Citing deceptive and confusing advertising by mobile phone companies concerning data speeds, Consumer Watchdog today petitioned the Federal Communications Commission to require wireless carriers to disclose actual network data speeds.

Consumer Watchdog Challenges Google-FTC Privacy Settlement

Juan Carlos Perez

Consumer Watchdog, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group, is dialing up its criticism of the proposed privacy settlement between the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and Google.

Consumer Watchdog Asks Judge for Permission to Oppose FTC Settlement With Google

John M. Simpson

Cites Need For Google to Accept Responsibility For Wrongdoing

SAN FRANCISCO – Consumer Watchdog has filed a motion in U.S. District Court asking that it be allowed to oppose the $22.5 million settlement the Federal Trade Commission has reached with Google because the agreement allows the Internet giant to deny any wrongdoing.

Google Buys Frommer’s Travel Guides in Yet Another Contested Move as a Content Publisher

Miranda Miller

“There is a fundamental conflict between being a search provider and a content provider,” Consumer Watchdog Privacy Project Director John Simpson told The Inquirer. “As Google has increased its content and services, it has unfairly favoured them in its search results and damaged competitors. It makes absolutely no sense to approve this deal.”

The FTC’s Threat to Web Consumers

LGordon Crovitz

Yet groups such as Consumer Watchdog have called on government regulators to block the sale. The Fairsearch.org consortium of competitors to Google—which includes Microsoft—issued a statement that “encourages government officials to look closely” at how Google uses the acquisition.