Tag Archive | "reform"
Commerce Deptartment Seeks Web Privacy Enforcement
The idea of opening a Commerce Department privacy office, which officials said was underway, came under fire from the privacy group Consumer Watchdog, which said the office may not have enough of a consumer focus. "There is a fundamental conflict of interest in putting the administration's Privacy Policy Office in the Commerce Department," said John Simpson, a privacy expert with the group, whose sentiments were echoed by other privacy organizations.
Continue reading...Privacy Groups Critical Of Commerce Privacy Report
Thursday, December 16, 2010
While pleased that the agency is bringing attention to the need to do more to protect consumer privacy online, representatives from five privacy groups said in a conference call that the report's proposed measures are too focused on industry self regulation. It's a "Christmas gift to the data collection industry from the Obama administration," according to John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog.
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...Do Not Track Could Revolutionize Online Ad Industry
Monday, December 13, 2010
Privacy advocates praised the move, saying that tracking has gotten out of hand. "Consumers have a right to know what information is gathered about them, how it is used and whether it is gathered at all," says John M. Simpson, spokesman for the advocacy group Consumer Watchdog.
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 Explores Privacy With New Feature
Thursday, December 9, 2010
"We do not need a technological arms race," said John M. Simpson, director of CW's Inside Google project, "A simple 'Do Not Track Me' message sent from a browser that advertisers would be required by law to honor would do that."
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 […]
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Thursday, December 16, 2010
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