Consumer Watchdog Launches Inside Google Website To Focus Light on Internet Giant
Santa Monica, CA — Consumer Watchdog today formally launched its new Website, Inside Google, to focus attention on the company’s activities and…
May 19, 2010Consumer Watchdog
Providing an effective voice for American consumers in an era when special interests dominate public discourse, government and politics. Non-partisan.
Articles by Consumer Watchdog
Privacy
White House Reprimands Deputy CTO for Emails with Former Colleagues at Google
The nation’s deputy chief technology officer, Andrew McLaughlin, was reprimanded by the White House for improperly corresponding with former Google colleagues, according…
May 19, 2010
Insurance
Should Insurance Discount Be Transferrable? No: It Can Mean Higher Rates if a Policy Lapses
Op-Ed Special to The Desert Sun The last thing California families can afford right now is an initiative that makes insurance companies…
May 19, 2010
Privacy
Google Chief Eric Schmidt Downplays Wi-Fi Privacy Row
In the US, advocacy group the Consumer Watchdog has written to the Federal Trade Commission urging it to investigate Google. “Google has…
May 18, 2010White House Reprimands Ex-Googler After Consumer Watchdog FOIA Request
Group Says Deputy Chief Technology Officer Andrew McLaughlin Should Resign SANTA MONICA, CA — The White House Deputy Chief Technology Officer, Google’s…
May 18, 2010
Privacy
FTC Likely to Examine Google’s Wireless Gaffe
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is likely to open a preliminary inquiry into Google Inc.'s disclosure that it accidentally harvested data from…
May 18, 2010
Privacy
Google Cars Pulled After Privacy “Mistake”
Google is apologizing for scooping up bits of people's online activities when they use Wi-Fi networks. The Google-owned cars that provide pictures…
May 18, 2010
Privacy
Google’s WiFi Snoop – Who Knew and Who Didn’t?
"The FTC needs to ask what did Google know and when did Google know it,” says John Simpson. “Google’s suggestion for a…
May 18, 2010Consumer Watchdog Calls on FTC to Investigate Google’s WiFi Snooping
SANTA MONICA, CA — Consumer Watchdog today called on the Federal Trade Commission to launch an immediate probe of Google’s snooping on…
May 17, 2010
Privacy
White House Official Reprimanded for Consulting with Google Colleagues
Deputy Web Chief Andrew McLaughlin was scolded for consulting with former colleagues at Google. The White House has reprimanded one of its…
May 17, 2010Another Prop 17 Deception Uncovered: Mercury Trying To Raise Rates Even As It Promises Prop 17 Discounts
Mercury Asking Dep’t of Insurance for $32 Million Rate Hike On Its Car Insurance Policyholders; Company Would Recoup All Its Money From…
May 17, 2010
Privacy
Google Acknowledges Collecting Snippets of People’s Online Activities Broadcast Over Wi-Fi
Consumer Watchdog, a group that has become one of Google’s most outspoken critics, renewed its call for a regulatory crackdown Friday. “Once…
May 17, 2010
Privacy
Watchdog Blasts Google Over Data Collection Mistake
Consumer Watchdog once again raised its concerns about Google’s data privacy practices after the firm acknowledged Friday in a blog post that…
May 17, 2010
Privacy
FTC Asked to Investigate Google Wi-Fi ‘Snooping’
A consumer group has called on the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to investigate Google after the search company revealed that it had…
May 17, 2010
Insurance
Condo Owners On Shaky Ground
Deciding whether or not to buy earthquake insurance is a dilemma for California homeowners, but it's doubly difficult for condominium and town…
May 16, 2010
Privacy
Consuming Interests: Customer Service at a Cost
More Companies Make You Pay for Customer Service Agent's Help Doug Heller, executive director of Consumer Watchdog in Los Angeles, said customer…
May 16, 2010
Insurance
California’s Prop. 17 Aims to Alter Auto Insurance
Opponents, led by Proposition 103 author Harvey Rosenfield, say the new initiative is a cynical ploy that would actually result in higher…
May 16, 2010
Privacy
Google Collecting Personal WiFi Data By Mistake
Google has said that the cars used for its “Street View” mapping service had been mistakenly collecting personal data that people sent…
May 15, 2010