Inside Google – Page 84 – A Consumer Watchdog Investigation.

Tue, May 4, 2010

News Clipping

Boucher’s Privacy Bill Scolded by Consumer Groups

The quest for comprehensive, federal privacy legislation has been on many a lawmakers’ wish list for years, and two House members took the next step this week with the release of draft legislation that would require opt-in access to sensitive online data, an expectation of privacy regarding third-party apps, and easily accessible privacy practices. Consumer groups, however, said the bill does not do enough and criticized provisions that would prevent stronger state laws or individual lawsuits.

Mon, May 3, 2010

News Clipping

Online Advertisers Targeted in Privacy Moves

By Chris Nuttall

With behavioural targeting and privacy becoming hot internet issues, a coalition of consumer and privacy advocacy groups is taking their fight for online rights to Capitol Hill. The sizeable coalition – its members are Consumer Action, Center for Digital Democracy, Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union, Consumer Watchdog, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Privacy Lives, Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, Privacy Times, US Public Interest Research Group and the World Privacy Forum – says industry self-regulation has not provided meaningful consumer protection and legislation is needed.

Mon, May 3, 2010

Press Release

Consumer And Privacy Groups Warn Online Tracking At “Alarming Levels,” Joint Letter To Congress Outlines Principles Privacy Legislation Must Include

CONTACT: John M. Simpson

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Warning that “tracking and targeting of consumers online have reached alarming levels,” a coalition of 11 consumer and privacy advocacy organizations today sent a letter to Congress outlining the protections any online privacy legislation must include.

Sun, May 2, 2010

Blog Post

Congressmen question proposed AdMob deal

Posted by John M. Simpson

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

Fri, Apr 30, 2010

Blog Post

Ohio AG backs antitrust suit against Google

Posted by John M. Simpson

In yet another indication of the seriousness of the mounting antitrust concerns about Goolge, the Ohio Attorney General, Richard A. Cordray, has weighed in on the side of myTriggers, an internet search firm suing Google for unfair anticompetitive practices

Fri, Apr 30, 2010

Blog Post

Gathering your WiFi data – Google’s business plan

Posted by Margot Williams

Government data protection authorities in Germany and the UK are questioning the collection of information on individual WiFI networks by Google’s Street View cars traversing their local streets.

Thu, Apr 29, 2010

Blog Post

Is history repeating itself with Google antitrust saga?

Posted by Glenn Simpson

Is this how it begins?
A handful of small companies crushed by a technology giant file David v. Goliath unfair competition lawsuits. A leading Silicon Valley antitrust expert lends his legal brains to the seemingly hopeless cause. Soon, a company that thinks it is all powerful and can do no wrong is forced to face up to the reality that it does not play well with others.

Wed, Apr 28, 2010

Blog Post

Cute Stuff on Small Screens for Big Bucks?

Posted by Margot Williams

Google just bought its first Israeli startup, LabPixies. The company was an early developer of widgets (web gadgets) like games (Flood-It), calendars and to-do lists for iGoogle personalized home pages.

Tue, Apr 27, 2010

Blog Post

GSA for GSA

Posted by Margot Williams

In a serendipitous synchronicity, the Google Search Appliance (GSA) has debuted as the new search engine on the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) web site.

Recently a box popped up on an obscure GSA web page titled “Transparency” which reveals that Google has taken over the search spot at the agency.

Tue, Apr 27, 2010

News Clipping

Jennifer Stoddart Blazes a Global Trail for Privacy Protection

By Jacquie McNish

“She has taken the lead in sounding the privacy alarm,” said John Simpson, a consumer advocate with Consumer Watchdog in Santa Monica, Calif.

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