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Blog Post

What does Rep. Boucher’s fall mean for Internet privacy and Google?

3. November 2010

People who worry about online privacy and the intrusive practices of Internet companies like Google and Facebook are trying to figure out the impact of the election. One victim of the Republican juggernaut was a key Internet policy player, Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Va. I don’t think his fall will slow the mounting drive to protect privacy. It will, however, mean one less pair of friendly ears on the Hill where Google lobbyists can whisper their policy goals.

Blog Post

Google dodges two bullets as Wi-Spy questions linger

Posted by Glenn Simpson

3. November 2010

Google’s success at forging non-adversarial relationships with government regulators in the Anglo-American world is paying dividends for the Internet giant. Wednesday the British information commissioner in London declined to fine the Internet company for privacy violations in the United Kingdom for its Wi-Spying activities.

Press Release

Consumer Watchdog praises state Attorneys General for continuing Wi-Spy probe

CONTACT: John M. Simpson

29. October 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.

News Clipping

Privacy Advocates Blast FTC’s Inaction Over Street View Spying

By Sidney Hill , E-COMMERCE TIMES

28. October 2010

“The White House deputy chief technology officer, Andrew McLaughlin, was formerly Google’s head of government affairs, and [Google CEO] Eric Schmidt was on a panel of economic advisors for President Obama’s transition team,” John Simpson, director of Consumer Watchdog’s Inside Google project, told the E-Commerce Times. “If you asked me if I was surprised that that type of clout and influence could pay off for Google in this case, I would say ‘no,'” Simpson continued. “Do I have proof that it did? Again, I would have to say ‘no.'”

News Clipping

Critics Call For Congressional Hearings On Google’s Wi-Fi Data Harvesting

By Byron Acohido , USA TODAY

28. October 2010

Leading the call for Congressional oversight is John M. Simpson, managing director of the non-profit advocacy group Consumer Watchdog. Simpson calls this two-page letter the FTC sent to Google on Wednesday “premature and wrong. “

News Clipping

FTC Closes Google Privacy Inquiry

By Mike Swift , SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS

27. October 2010

Saying they are satisfied with privacy reforms Google announced last week, U.S. regulators have closed their inquiry into Google’s collection of data from unsecured private Wi-Fi networks through its Street View cars, a decision that was blasted Wednesday by online privacy advocates.

News Clipping

US Regulators Scold Google for Taking E-mails

By Michael Liedtke , ASSOCIATED PRESS

27. October 2010

NEW YORK (AP) — The Federal Trade Commission is scolding Google Inc. without punishing the Internet search leader for collecting e-mails, passwords and other personal information transmitted over unsecured wireless networks. Consumer Watchdog, a group that has been among the most strident critics of Google’s so-called “Wi-Spy” incident, called FTC’s resolution “premature and wrong.” It also suggested that Google’s lobbyists may have swayed the outcome of the inquiry. The company has spent $3.9 million on lobbying activities so far this year and has met with the FTC on variety of topics, according to company disclosures.

Press Release

FTC wrong to end Wi-Spy probe — public entitled to full account of abuses

CONTACT: John M. Simpson

27. October 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.

News Clipping

A Reassured F.T.C. Ends Google Street View Inquiry

By Claire Cain Miller , THE NEW YORK TIMES

27. October 2010

Consumer Watchdog, an advocacy group, called the F.T.C.’s decision “premature and wrong. Once again, Google, with its myriad of government connections, gets a free pass,” John M. Simpson, director of the group’s Inside Google Project, said in a statement.

News Clipping

Google Could Get Massive UK Privacy Fine Over WiSpy

By Peter Judge , EWEEK EUROPE

25. October 2010

In the US, Consumer Watchdog advocate John Simpson said it is difficult to trust Google because it keeps changing its story. “First they said they didn’t gather data; then they said they did, but it was only fragments; and today they finally admit entire e-mails and URLs were captured, as well as passwords,” said Simpson. “Maybe some Google executives are beginning to get it: Privacy matters. The reality, though, is that the company’s entire culture needs to change.”

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