Consumer Watchdog

Justin Kloczko writes about tech, energy and insurance for Consumer Watchdog. He’s covered privacy issues extensively, including data collection, privacy rights and legislation, artificial intelligence, algorithms, and surveillance pricing.
 
He’s a recovering daily newspaper reporter with experience covering local government, education, and the criminal justice system at the Hartford Advocate, Middletown Press, and  Manchester Journal Inquirer. His work has appeared in Vice, Daily Beast, The New Republic, KCRW and Los Angeles Magazine.
 
While covering civil litigation at the Los Angeles Daily Journal he won LA Press Club awards for his stories detailing corruption at the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office and the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power. The stories led to the criminal prosecutions of multiple city officials. Justin also authored The Debaser, an independent newsletter about LA culture and politics that garnered him an appearance on the ABC/Hulu documentary about disgraced plaintiff’s attorney Tom Girardi called “The Housewife and the Hustler.”

Los Angeles Daily News – State Farm seeks 30% overall hike for California home insurance policies

The company is asking for an additional 11% on top of a 17% rate increase after the Los Angeles fires By Ethan Varian, LOS ANGELES...

San Francisco Chronicle – State Farm eyes higher rate after emergency hike

By Megan Fan Munce, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE https://www.sfchronicle.com/california/article/state-farm-insurance-rates-20335755.php A week after securing approval to raise home insurance rates by an average of 17%, State Farm General...

Enterprise Record – Ethical issue dogs ‘$8 per gallon’ gasoline study | California Focus

By Thomas Elias, ENTERPRISE RECORD https://www.chicoer.com/2025/05/21/ethical-issue-dogs-8-per-gallon-gasoline-study-california-focus/ Academics have known for many years the potential for conflicts of interest when they conduct studies or write reports on...

KPIX-SF (CBS) – San Francisco, CA:State Farm Emergency Rate Hike Approved

Today's decision that would make consumers pay now, but allow state farm to wait months before having to show its math, is a great disappointment for consumers.

Common Dreams – Wildfire Survivors ‘Deserve Better,’ Advocates Say as California Approves State Farm Rate Hike

Regulators like California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara "need to hold insurance giants like State Farm accountable to paying out what they owe, not reward...

Los Angeles Times – Four months into insurance claim delays and disputes, a new blow to fire victims: A rate hike

By Steve Lopez, LOS ANGELES TIMES https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-05-13/lopez-column-fire-victim-complaints-state-farm For four months, the frustrations and indignities have continued for victims of the Palisades and Eaton fires, especially for...

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AB 446 prohibits businesses from using personal information of a consumer to adjust the price of goods.
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