Privacy
Is Google neutral or not? Does it matter?
The Wall Street Journal touched off a debate Monday in an article suggesting that Internet giant ...
Dec 16, 2008Consumer 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
Insurance
Will Your Insurance Rates Rise Or Fall?
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- California's Insurance Department wants to change the rules that consumer activists say will stop protection for California consumers.…
Dec 12, 2008
Insurance
Panel Restricts Perks for Officials
Ethics Commission Tightens Rules on Municipal Employees Accepting Tickets to Concerts, Sport Events. The new rules "should reduce the number of tickets,…
Dec 12, 2008
Privacy
Google removes ‘Beta’ label from Chrome, but browser still fails privacy test
I was surprised today when Internet giant Google today removed the "Beta" or test label from its new Chrome browser. Four-year-old Gmail…
Dec 12, 2008
Insurance
ISO: Consumers in the know are criminals
I know that the insurance industry likes to operate in the dark. It took a voter revolt at the ballot box and…
Dec 11, 2008CA Fair Political Practices Commission Should Require Greater Disclosure, Accountability, for Candidates’ Ballot Initiative Fundraising
Rules Would Apply to All Ballot Measure Funds Controlled by Elected Officials Santa Monica, CA -- Political reform advocates at Consumer Watchdog…
Dec 11, 2008
Privacy
Perata Shifted $1.5 Million from PAC to His Legal Defense
The state Fair Political Practices Commission today will consider a new regulation that would require a candidate-controlled ballot measure committee such as…
Dec 11, 2008
Privacy
Shutting Down Public Access TV
AT&T and L.A. City Hall Quietly Lead a National Push to Silence the Little Guy For 19 years, Judy Dugan worked at…
Dec 11, 2008
Accountability
Fair Practices Panel Delays Action on ‘Slush Fund’ Rule
Carmen Balber, an advocate with Consumer Watchdog who wrote to the fair practices panel in support of the regulation, was at Thursday's…
Dec 11, 2008
Privacy
Board Sets Chairman’s Salary at $150,000
John Simpson, of the nonprofit Consumer Watchdog in Santa Monica, had proposed Klein's salary be capped at $200,000, about the same amount…
Dec 11, 2008New Poll Warns Daschle, Obama: Mandatory Health Insurance Big Loser With Public; Voters Want Return on Stem Cell Research
Santa Monica, CA -- Less than 15% of U.S. voters support, and 53% oppose, a proposal pushed by health insurers requiring every…
Dec 11, 2008
Privacy
Klein Will Get Paid to Head CIRM
The board had earlier established a full-time pay range for the CIRM chairman position at $275,000 to $508,750. Klein had requested that…
Dec 10, 2008
Insurance
Money Getting Tighter for Thinkers
(Click here to listen to audio of the radio broadcast of this segment.) Washington's 340 think tanks are hurting from new lows…
Dec 10, 2008
Privacy
Microsoft trumps Google on privacy
Google's arch-rival, Mircrosoft, has just announced it will anonymize all private data it collects during online searches after six months if its…
Dec 9, 2008
Healthcare
Stuck in the System
On Nov. 4, Alicia Messinger was strong enough to return home from the hospital, but a month later, she's still waiting for…
Dec 6, 2008
Privacy
Salary Plan At Stem Cell Institute Is Criticized
Governor Cites State Deficit In Opposing Leaders' Pay A consumer advocate who watches the institute's actions closely said he shares the governor's…
Dec 6, 2008
Privacy
If you don’t vote in a darkened room does the public ever know?
Kudos to Maplight.org and the California First Amendment Coalition, who filed suit this week to force the state’s legislative counsel to release…
Dec 6, 2008
Privacy
Sometimes Google listens
Don't be shy about telling Google what you think of the company's activities. Sometimes the internet giant listens to what its users…
Dec 5, 2008