Consumer Watchdog

Privacy

Liveblog: House on the Volcker rule

The House financial reform conferees just had a quick mini-debate on the Volcker rule - they'll have an extended discussion once the…

Jun 23, 2010

Privacy

Liveblog: Senate rejects some key House fixes on consumer protection

Senator Dodd is responding to the House offer now. The Senate is accepting 15 House changes, with modifications, and rejecting 8. Debate…

Jun 22, 2010

Energy

Liveblog: House on consumer protection

For a conference process that's more open than any in recent memory, most of these decisions are still being made behind closed…

Jun 22, 2010

Insurance

Liveblog: Auto Dealers 1; Consumers 0.

The House/Senate conference committee on financial reform is debating the structure and authority of a consumer financial protection bureau. The issue just…

Jun 22, 2010

Video

How Google Is Becoming An Anti-Competitive Monopoly

See the full report this video is based off of here.

Jun 21, 2010

Insurance

California Residents Urged to Take Advantage of Affordable Auto Insurance Option

Imperial, CA - As Imperial County struggles with major unemployment, many drivers have failed to take advantage of a program that could help them.…

Jun 21, 2010

Privacy

Advocacy Groups Ask Facebook for More Privacy Changes

Despite the fixes Facebook has made to its privacy settings, ten groups are asking the social network to do more. Here's what…

Jun 17, 2010

Privacy

Facebook Urged to Do More to Protect User Privacy

WASHINGTON — Privacy activists called on Facebook on Wednesday to give users of the booming social network more control over the use…

Jun 16, 2010

Privacy

Groups tell Facebook to improve privacy

Consumer Watchdog today joined a lineup of ten of the nation’s top privacy groups and sent an open letter to Facebook calling…

Jun 16, 2010

Privacy

Donor to Pay for Governor’s Trade Mission to Asia

A gap in the new contributions law allows him to use a $550,000 donation. SACRAMENTO, CA -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger isn't letting…

Jun 16, 2010

Insurance

Regs May Pit States Against Treasury

Carmen Balber of Consumer Watchdog, which opposes the Senate version, disagreed with the industry’s interpretation. “The scope of pre-emption is much broader…

Jun 16, 2010

Insurance

Mistreated Customers Try for Viral Vengeance

There’s been an uptick in the number of people who are going the social-media route to take shots at corporations that they…

Jun 16, 2010

Privacy

Palo Alto Biotech Company Grants License to Children’s Hospital, Allowing Stem Cell Research

Palo Alto biotech company StemCells has approved the research use for free of its patented technology by a children's research hospital, clearing…

Jun 15, 2010

Insurance

Perspectives: Mercury General, Poizner Make Millions Disappear in Primary Election

Mercury "got taken for a ride" by political consultants, said Jamie Court, president and chairman of Consumer Watchdog and a board member…

Jun 14, 2010

Conference Committee Must Reject Treasury Rollback of State Insurance Laws In Wall Street Reform Bill

Washington, D.C. --- The financial reform bill will deregulate state insurance oversight by allowing the Treasury Department to use a new national…

Jun 14, 2010

Consumer Watchdog Backs Call for Congressional Hearing on Google’s WiSpy Snooping

SANTA MONICA, CA — Consumer Watchdog today praised three Congressmen for releasing Google’s purported explanation of its three-year WiSpy snooping and endorsed…

Jun 11, 2010

Insurance

Voter Skepticism of Big Moneyed Interests Could Play Role in Fall Campaign

Voters had to work hard to sift through the "obfuscation" and "deception" employed by PG&E and Mercury Insurance, said Doug Heller, executive…

Jun 11, 2010

Insurance

Despite Prop. 17’s Defeat, Auto Insurers’ Battle May Not Be Over

Proponents failed in their attempt “to scam California drivers by authorizing surcharges that voters made illegal in 1988 when they passed Proposition…

Jun 10, 2010