Inside Google

Latest Facebook privacy intrusion touches Google

John M. Simpson

In the latest revelation in a seemingly never ending stream of privacy breaches by online companies, we now know that Facebook and MySpace have been sending consumers’ personal information to advertisers despite promises that they don’t share such data without consent.

Outrage continues to grow over Google “WiSpy” effort

John M. Simpson

Outrage continues to rise over Google’s “WiSpy” efforts that saw its Street View cars snoop on private WiFi networks as they roamed the streets of 30 countries over the last three years. Europeans contemplated criminal charges; U.S. lawmakers asked the Federal Trade Commission what it’s doing and a class action suit was filed in Oregon.

Germans incensed by Google’s WiFi snooping on personal data; activity called illegal

Margot Williams

Germany’s Consumer Affairs Minister Ilse Aigner blasted Google over the weekend for its “accidental” collection of personal data by Street View cars driving by the homes of citizens in Germany (and the U.S. and other countries all around the world).

Google change shuts Scroogle, but alternative search engine returns

John M. Simpson

Consumers worried about the data Google amasses about them as they use the Internet giant’s search engine have used a service called Scroogle.org. This week the nonprofit service was abruptly disrupted, prompting questions about whether Google deliberately targeted the operation.

Google’s Schmidt passes the buck on privacy

Margot Williams

With the classic timing of those who want to downplay bad news, Google responded late Friday afternoon to a letter of complaint issued by ten countries last month about the misfired rollout of the Google Buzz social networking application when Google exposed Gmail users’ personal e-mail contacts to the online world without user consent.

We’re number one… or not. The vagaries of Google’s search engine.

John M. Simpson

As we ready Inside Google, now in “Beta” mode, for its formal launch I’ve been checking various search engines to see where the site ranks. Today Google put me at number one.

Can Google explain this search result?

John M. Simpson

As we have been putting Consumer Watchdog’s new Inside Google Website through its paces while it’s still in “Beta” mode, I discovered an example of exactly the sort thing Google needs to explain.

Can we draw any conclusions from Google’s new look?

John M. Simpson

Internet giant Google spiffed up its look and redesigned the appearance of its search pages this week. The move left me wondering what inferences, if any, can be drawn about the Internet giant’s attitude toward intellectual property.

Librarians shout out for privacy revolution

Margot Williams

Librarians are calling for Americans to take charge of their privacy rights in a digital age during Choose Privacy Week May 2-8 at http://www.privacyrevolution.org/.

Press Release

Congressmen question proposed AdMob deal

CONTACT: John M. Simpson

Google’s controversial $750 million deal to buy mobile advertising company AdMob has raised more doubts, this time from Capitol Hill.