Inside Google

SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog today urged the Federal Trade Commission to file antitrust charges against Alphabet Inc.’s Google for using its monopoly power over the Android operating system to stifle competition and unfairly drive consumers to its own services.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In the wake of a Google self-driving car crashing into a bus, a coalition of consumer groups called on the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration “to commit to maximum transparency and public involvement” as they develop policy and safety standards covering autonomous self-driving vehicles.

SANTA MONICA, CA – A Valentine’s Day crash in which a self-driving Google robot car sideswiped a bus demonstrates the need for a police investigation and the release of technical data and video associated with the crash, Consumer Watchdog said today.

SANTA MONICA, CA – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is wrong to say the artificial intelligence guiding an autonomous robot car counts as the driver, Consumer Watchdog said today, adding that Google’s own test data demonstrates the need for a human driver who can take control when necessary.

Consumer Watchdog Backs California DMV’s Draft Robot Car Regulations Requiring A Driver Behind The Wheel

SACRAMENTO, CA – Consumer Watchdog today strongly endorsed the California Department of Motor Vehicles’ draft regulations for autonomous vehicles that require self-driving robot cars have a licensed driver behind the wheel capable of taking control, and a working steering wheel, gas pedal and brake.

SANTA MONICA, CA – Google’s federal lobbying expenses in 2015 topped $16 million for the second year in a row, according to records just filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives and analyzed today by Consumer Watchdog.

SANTA MONICA, CA – Google’s just released report detailing when human drivers took control of a self-driving robot car being tested underscores the need – as required by California DMV draft regulations – for a driver behind a steering wheel of a self-driving car, Consumer Watchdog said today.

SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumers and regulators should not be fooled by the autonomous vehicle hype coming out of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Consumer Watchdog warned today.

SANTA MONICA, CA – Draft regulations covering self-driving robot cars issued today by the California Department of Motor Vehicles incorporate a key safety provision advocated by Consumer Watchdog and require the robot cars to have a steering wheel and pedals and be occupied by a licensed driver capable of taking control of the vehicle.

Put Focus On Enforceable Standards For Automated Technologies That Improve Safety
SANTA MONICA, CA – Self-driving robot cars are not ready for public use and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) must not rush to implement regulations covering the vehicles as it updates its policy on automated vehicle technologies, Consumer Watchdog said today.