Google faces other legal actions over the Street View snafu. German prosecutors, for example, have launched a criminal investigation into Google’s actions, while in the US, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been asked to investigate Google by the consumer group Consumer Watchdog.
Fri, May 21, 2010
FTC Approves Google Deal for AdMob
“I’m really incredulous,” said John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog. “What they are saying is the No. 1 and the No. 2 can combine, and it’s not a problem because there is a No. 3 over there that is now owned by Apple. I find that incomprehensible.”
Fri, May 21, 2010
White House and Google: Cozy, As Charged
By browsing through several dozen emails now being posted by a consumer group, anyone can read for himself the chummy chatter that has been occurring for the past year between a couple of senior Google officers and White House Deputy Chief Technology Officer Andrew McLaughlin, who headed Google’s global public policy unit until assuming his current post in May 2009.
Fri, May 21, 2010
Consumer Watchdog Says FTC’s Google-AdMob Decision Will Hurt Consumers
CONTACT: John M. Simpson , 310-392-0522, x317; or 310-292-1902
The Federal Trade Commission’s decision allowing the $750 million deal for Google to buy mobile advertising company AdMob is anticompetitive and bad for consumers, Consumer Watchdog said today.
Thu, May 20, 2010
Latest Facebook privacy intrusion touches Google
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.
Thu, May 20, 2010
New Website Tracking Google’s Impact on Privacy
“Google advocates openness and transparency for everyone else, but when it comes to their own activities, the company is extremely secretive,” said Consumer Watchdog spokesman John Simpson. “Inside Google will focus needed public attention on Google’s activities.”
Wed, May 19, 2010
Outrage continues to grow over Google “WiSpy” effort
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.
Wed, May 19, 2010
Google Will ‘Fight’ for AdMob Deal, Schmidt Says
Consumer Watchdog and Center for Digital Democracy were concerned more about the impact the deal would have on consumers’ ability to protect their privacy than the possible antitrust implications of the acquisition.
Wed, May 19, 2010
Google Faces Criminal Probe in Hamburg on Wi-Fi Data
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission received a letter on May 17 from Consumer Watchdog, a Santa Monica, California-based group that frequently criticizes Google, calling for an investigation into the Street View matter.
Wed, May 19, 2010
Consumer Watchdog’s Jamie Court and John M. Simpson introduce Inside Google
CONTACT: John M. Simpson
Fri, May 21, 2010