The revelation that Google Inc. is partnering with the National Security Agency to probe a widespread cyber attack has quickened the pulse of privacy advocates.
News Clipping
Google, NSA Partnership Raises Privacy Hackles
Archive | Tag: China
Blog Post
Google asking spy agency for help
Google has apparently gone to the super secret National Security Agency seeking help in preventing cyber attacks.
Press Release
Consumer Watchdog Lauds Clinton’s Call For Open Internet, Stresses Need For Online Consumer Privacy Safeguards
WASHINGTON, DC — Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s condemnation of
cyber attacks and censorship is an important endorsement of a free
global Internet, but just as important to ensuring the Internet’s
contribution to democracy and economic growth is a commitment to
consumer privacy, Consumer Watchdog said today.
News Clipping
Googling Obama’s China policy
Google’s ties to the Obama administration are perhaps unrivaled in corporate America, but the Internet giant’s announcement this week that it’s considering pulling out of China because of Chinese censorship and hacker attacks put the White House in a tricky spot. "They like to go around and sing the mantra, ‘Don’t be evil,’" said
John Simpson, a consumer advocate with the nonprofit Consumer Watchdog.
"But they almost always act in what they perceive to be Google’s
interest – and that doesn’t necessarily coincide with that of any
government."
News Clipping
Security Firm Outlines How Attack Against Google Was Pulled Off
A Silicon Valley Internet security firm on Thursday described for the first time how hackers from China were able to crack Google’s defenses, saying the attackers took advantage of a flaw in Microsoft’s Web browser to probe deeply into the company’s network. In addition to the Google network, the high-profile intrusion also
targeted Gmail accounts in the United States and other countries. This
may prompt users to demand better security for electronic mail and
other personal data that’s stored on Internet clouds, some advocates
say. "The problem up until now is that people like Google have
emphasized speed and efficiency and ease of use," said John M. Simpson,
an advocate with Consumer Watchdog. "In too many cases, they have let
security and privacy become a secondary issue. This situation is a
wake-up call for everybody."
Press Release
Google Finally Improves Security Of Gmail Connections As Consumer Watchdog Urged
Santa Monica, CA — In the wake of cyber attacks from China Google has
announced it will improve security for consumers connecting to its
Gmail service over the Internet by encrypting data traveling to its
servers, a move Consumer Watchdog called on the Internet giant to make
more than a year ago.
Press Release
Chinese Attacks On Google Show Need For Internet Giant To Focus On Security, Privacy
Santa Monica, CA — Google acted correctly in ending self-censorship of
its Chinese search engine, Google.cn, but the cyber attacks that
prompted the decision demonstrate the company must give American
consumers better security and privacy controls, Consumer Watchdog said
today.
News Clipping
Google Does An About-Face On China Policy
San Francisco, CA — In a surprise announcement late Tuesday, Google Inc. said it may turn its back on the huge Chinese market after a sophisticated cyber attack on the e-mail accounts of human rights advocates in the Asian nation. Some have dubbed the country’s censorship efforts, which apply to Yahoo
Inc. and Microsoft Corp.’s search engines too, the "Great Firewall of
China." Users of Google.cn in China generally couldn’t look at images
of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, dig up information about Tibet’s
Dalai Lama or access the Web site for journalism watchdog organization
Reporters Without Borders, according to reports. "While Google
should never have agreed to censor search results in China in the first
place, it is doing the right thing by ending the practice now," said
John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog in Los Angeles. "The company should
be commended."
News Clipping
Google May Leave China In Wake Of Hacker Attacks
The Internet firm says it will stop the scorned practice of censoring users’ search results.
Public interest groups lauded Google’s move to stop censoring search results. "While Google should never have agreed to censor search results in
China in the first place, it is doing the right thing by ending the
practice now," said John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog.
News Clipping
Google’s Book-Scan Deal Is Not Solid Yet
Google Inc.’s settlement with authors and publishers over the digital
scanning of books got a preliminary approval from a federal judge last
week, but the controversy may be far from over. In fact, legal experts and industry observers who have been closely
following the case believe the fight over Google’s ambitious
book-scanning efforts is just starting all over again.