Google needs Chief Privacy Officer
Google can to take one simple step to show that it cares about consumers’ privacy. The Internet giant simply needs to appoint a Chief Privacy Officer. Instead, in it’s latest bit of PR spin Google as it tried to deal with the fallout from the Wi-Spy scandal, the company has muddied the water with an executive structure that virtually assures to confuse and will ultimately fail.
Continue reading...Consumer Watchdog praises state Attorneys General for continuing Wi-Spy probe
Friday, October 29, 2010
SANTA MONICA, CA — Consumer Watchdog today praised a coalition of state attorneys general led by Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal for continuing an investigation into Google’s Wi-Spying scandal in the wake of the Federal Trade Commission halting its probe earlier this week.
Continue reading...FTC wrong to end Wi-Spy probe — public entitled to full account of abuses
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
SANTA MONICA, CA — The Federal Trade Commission’s two-page letter ending its probe of the Google Wi-Spy scandal is premature and wrong, Consumer Watchdog said today, and leaves the American public with no official full account of the Internet giant’s repeated invasions of consumer privacy.
Continue reading...Google CEO’s creepy advice: ‘Just move’
Monday, October 25, 2010
Maybe Google CEO Eric Schmidt thought he was making a joke, but you’d think by now — if he is at all serious about respecting consumers’ privacy — the billionaire executive would understand that privacy is not a laughing matter.
Continue reading...Add a 4th category of lie: Googlespeak
Monday, October 25, 2010
You’ve probably heard the description of ways to mislead people that was attributed to British Prime Minister Benjamin Disreali and popularized in this country by Mark Twain: “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics.” Now we can add a fourth: Googlespeak.
Continue reading...Consumer Watchdog Tells Google To Prove New Privacy Commitment — Changing Wi-Spy Story Makes It Difficult To Believe Measures Are Serious
Friday, October 22, 2010
SANTA MONICA, CA — Consumer Watchdog welcomed three new steps Google said it is implementing to protect consumers’ privacy in response to the Wi-Spying scandal, but challenged the Internet giant to prove the measures are more than a public relations ploy.
Continue reading...Google cuts billions from its taxes through complex overseas tax dodges
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Google Inc. has dodged $3.1 billion in taxes in the last three years, reports Jesse Drucker of Bloomberg, giving new meaning to CEO Eric Schmidt’s recent comment to analysts: “We love cash.” The question now is how much longer Goolge can continue to draw on its positive image as the “Don’t-Be-Evil” company.
Continue reading...Google increases spending on lobbying to $1.2 million
Thursday, October 21, 2010
SANTA MONICA, CA — Google increased its spending on lobbying 11 percent over the previous year to $1.2 million in the third quarter demonstrating the Internet giant’s willingness to spend to shape federal policy, Consumer Watchdog said today. In the comparable quarter a year ago Google spent $1.08 million. A key to Google’s lobbying effort is its well-connected Washington staff, the nonpartisan, nonprofit public interest group said.
Continue reading...Google’s Wi-Spying broke Canadian law
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Google violated Canadian privacy laws when its Street View cars gathered data from private wireless networks, Canada’s privacy commissioner said on Tuesday. More important, the investigation found a company with a lackadaisical commitment to privacy among its engineers. Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart said the private data was gathered because of a ” a careless error – one that could easily have been avoided.”
Continue reading...Canadian Wi-Spy decision shows need for Congressional hearings
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
SANTA MONICA, CA — The Canadian Privacy Commissioner’s announcement today that Google’s Wi-Spying with its Street View cars broke the law demonstrates the need for U.S. Congressional hearings into the scandal, Consumer Watchdog said. According to Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart: “Our investigation shows that Google did capture personal information – and, in some cases, highly sensitive personal information such as complete e-mails. This incident was a serious violation of Canadians’ privacy rights.
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Monday, November 1, 2010
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