“The message for mobile companies is that they’ve got to get up-to-speed with privacy best practices and act responsibly,” said John M. Simpson, Washington-based director of nonprofit Consumer Watchdog’s privacy project. “If they don’t, there is going to be really strong regulation really quickly,” he said.
Continue reading...Thursday, May 19, 2011
John Simpson, spokesman for Consumer Watchdog, notes that the FCC is continuing an investigation into Google's past practice of sending fleets of specially equipped vehicles criss-crossing city streets in 30-plus nations to take photos for its mapping service -- and to collect data from Wi-Fi systems in homes and businesses.
Continue reading...Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Consumer Watchdog has dogged Google since 2008 on a number of issues. Particularly galling to Court is Google's massive collection of Internet users' information obtained through unencrypted Wi-Fi networks, which he says is a violation of wiretapping laws.
Continue reading...Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Jamie Court of Consumer Watchdog noted that Mozilla, Microsoft and Apple are incorporating a mechanism into their Web browsers to send a "Do Not Track" message but there is currently no legal requirement that a website honor the request.
Continue reading...Monday, May 9, 2011
A poll by Consumer Watchdog found that 90 percent of Americans want legislation to protect their online privacy, and 80 percent support a Do Not Track mechanism. Another 86 percent want a single-click button on their browsers that makes them anonymous when they search online.
Continue reading...Saturday, May 7, 2011
The bills announced Friday give new impetus to allowing consumers to request they not be tracked, said John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog. "Demand for 'do not track' protection is swelling, and that makes sense," he said. "This is an idea whose time has come, and I believe people will finally get the protection they are demanding."
Continue reading...Friday, May 6, 2011
The chairman of the powerful US senate commerce committee plans to introduce a bill [1] next week that will require companies to give online shoppers the opportunity to opt out of online tracking - and enforcement powers to the Federal Trade Commission.
Continue reading...Friday, May 6, 2011
"Demand for do-not-track protection is swelling and that makes sense," said John Simpson, spokesman for the group Consumer Watchdog. "This is an idea whose time has come, and I believe people will finally get the protection they are demanding. Senator Rockefeller should be commended for pushing the issue."
Continue reading...Thursday, May 5, 2011
Still, it's the first time such a bill has made it out of committee, and that's a big deal, according to John Simpson, director of Consumer Watchdog's Privacy Project. "This is the first time that a 'do not track' bill has actually had a hearing and been debated and then voted forward in the legislative process," he said.
Continue reading...Thursday, May 5, 2011
"A Do Not Track mechanism would give consumers better control of their information and help restore their confidence in the internet," Jamie Court, Consumer Watchdog's president, said in a written statement after the committee action. "That's a win-win for consumers and business."
Continue reading...
Monday, May 23, 2011
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