Tag Archive | "going to court"
Smartphones Need “Do Not Track Me” Function, Consumer Watchdog Says
Santa Monica, CA — The Do Not Track Me function proposed in the Federal Trade Commission’s recently released online privacy report must be extended to include smartphones, Consumer Watchdog said today in the wake of a Wall Street Journal article showing how applications for the iPhone and Android phones widely share personal data without the users’ knowledge or consent.
Continue reading...Google Denies Connecticut AG Street View Data
Saturday, December 18, 2010
That answer isn't satisfactory for privacy pundits such as Consumer Watchdog's John M. Simpson. "Google's refusal to give data gathered by its Street View cars from private WiFi networks to Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal underscores the need for a Congressional hearing," Simpson said. "What is Google hiding?
Continue reading...Privacy Groups Pan Policy Paper from Commerce
Thursday, December 16, 2010
The Commerce Department paper calls for an online privacy bill of rights and codes of conduct for Internet companies, with enforcement by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. But several privacy groups questioned whether the codes of conduct would be effective because of the paper's suggestion that affected companies help write them. The policy recommendations in the report are an "early Christmas gift to the data collection industry," said John Simpson, consumer advocate with Consumer Watchdog.
Continue reading...Commerce Online Privacy Report Gets Mixed Grades
Thursday, December 16, 2010
John Simpson, consumer advocate at Consumer Watchdog, said the report starts off on the wrong foot with its very title - 'Commercial Data Privacy and Innovation in the Internet Economy: A Dynamic Policy Framework.' “They talk about commercial data privacy," Simpson said. "What we should be talking about is consumers' data and their right to privacy, not a business commodity. This is all about easing things for businesses. It’s in some sense I think an early Christmas gift to the data collection industry from the Obama administration.”
Continue reading...Web Companies Urged by U.S. to Cooperate on Privacy
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Consumer groups including Consumer Watchdog and the Center for Digital Democracy, both based in Washington, have raised concerns about how Internet marketing companies compile personal information to target online users with advertising. The FTC said in a privacy report released Dec. 1 that data collection on the Web is sometimes done “in an irresponsible or even reckless manner.”
Continue reading...Commerce Department Privacy Report Leaves Consumers In The Cold, Recommendations Favor Current Industry Practices, Consumer Watchdog Says
Thursday, December 16, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC — The Commerce Department’s “Green Paper” about online privacy is an industry friendly document that would perpetuate current failed practices that give companies, not consumers, control of consumer data, Consumer Watchdog said today.
Continue reading...Connecticut Attorney General Demands Google’s Street View Data
Friday, December 10, 2010
"Connecticut sounds very serious about doing something, doing something more than just a slap on the wrist," said John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog, an advocacy group that has asked for congressional hearings on the issue. Blumenthal "is going to be a junior senator, but he may carry some of this with him to Washington. Who knows, he might be the guy who gets some kind of a hearing" in Congress.
Continue reading...Microsoft To Add Tracking Protection To IE9
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Advertisers complain the Internet Explorer browser tool will hinder their ability to support free news, entertainment and other online content. Less than a week after federal regulators proposed giving web users a “do-not-track” option against online advertisers, Microsoft announced that it will add its own tracking protection mechanism in the next version of Internet Explorer […]
Continue reading...Consumer Watchdog Welcomes Microsoft’s Privacy Tool But Stresses Do Not Track Me Legislation is Still Essential
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
SANTA MONICA, CA — Consumer Watchdog welcomed Microsoft’s announcement today that the company will offer “Tracking Protection” next year, but said robust “Do Not Track Me” legislation still must be passed by Congress.
Continue reading...Will Congress let consumers say no to online tracking?
Friday, December 3, 2010
A House subcommittee held its last hearing of the 111th Congress yesterday to talk about whether legislation creating a “Do Not Track Me” mechanism is needed to protect consumers’ privacy on the internet.
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Monday, December 20, 2010
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