Consumer Watchdog Insists EU ‘Market Test’ Newest Google Antitrust Settlement Offer
SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog today insisted the European Commission must ‘market test’ a reported new proposal from Google to settle…
Jan 30, 2014John M. Simpson
John M. Simpson is an American consumer rights advocate and former journalist. Since 2005, he has worked for Consumer Watchdog, a nonpartisan nonprofit public interest group, as the lead researcher on Inside Google, the group's effort to educate the public about Google's dominance over the internet and the need for greater online privacy.
Articles by John M. Simpson
Privacy
Compare What Schmidt Says With What He Does
Let's compare and contrast what Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt says with what he apparently actually does. It's not pretty.
Jan 28, 2014
Google’s Social Network Relies On Unfair Practice, Consumer Watchdog Tells FTC; Public Interest Group Also Says New Gmail Link Would Violate ‘Buzz’ Agreement
SANTA MONICA, CA – Google’s social network, Google+, relies on a flagrant and fundamental privacy design flaw that is an unfair business…
Jan 22, 2014
Google Leads Pack As 10 Tech Firms Pump $61.15 Million Into 2013 Lobbying Efforts
SANTA MONICA, CA – Google led in lobbying spending by ten tech firms who pumped a combined $61.15 million into efforts to…
Jan 22, 2014
Google+ Shuts Online Predators’ Accounts In Response to Consumer Watchdog Letter, But Key Privacy Design Flaw Remains And Must Be Fixed, Public Interest Group Says
SANTA MONICA, CA – Google has cleaned up its social network shutting down some accounts of apparent online predators and eliminating explicit…
Jan 9, 2014
Google’s Social Network Is Playground For Online Predators, Explicit Sexual Content, Tech Whistleblower Finds; Consumer Watchdog Says Google Must Police Google+
SANTA MONICA, CA -- Google has allowed its social network to become a virtual playground for online predators and explicit sexual content,…
Dec 18, 2013
Privacy
Google+: A Playground for Online Predators
From March to September 2013, an investigation was undertaken to detail the significant privacy issues Google+ users may encounter when using the…
Dec 15, 2013
Consumer Watchdog Calls On NASA To Evict Google Executives’ Planes After Inspector General Finds Improper Fuel Deal Netted Savings Up To $5.3 Million
SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog today called on NASA to evict a fleet of planes owned by Google’s billionaire top executives…
Dec 11, 2013
Consumer Watchdog Complains To FTC About Deception In Google Shopping Results
WASHINGTON, DC – Consumer Watchdog has filed a formal complaint with the Federal Trade Commission about the deceptive and unfair way Google…
Dec 4, 2013
Privacy
Google’s Cyber Scam
If you're one of the millions of Americans shopping online today on "Cyber Monday," be careful. You can't trust Google Shopping to…
Dec 2, 2013
Consumer Groups On Both Sides Of Atlantic Oppose Google Antitrust Settlement
SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer groups on both sides of the Atlantic are opposed to a proposed deal to settle the European…
Nov 26, 2013
Consumer Watchdog Finds Consumers Pay More Because of Google’s Search Monopoly
SANTA MONICA – Google is taking advantage of its monopoly position in search to charge merchants more for placement in Google Shopping,…
Nov 25, 2013
Google Continues To Buy Its Way Out Of Privacy Problems, Consumer Watchdog Says
SANTA MONICA, CA. – Google’s $17 million settlement with states attorneys general demonstrates the Internet giant’s business strategy of doing whatever it…
Nov 18, 2013
Privacy
Here’s A Chance To See How Your Privacy is Routinely Invaded
Have you heard about the outstanding documentary film Terms and Conditions May Apply? Directed by Cullen Hoback, it exposes what corporations and…
Nov 15, 2013
Consumer Watchdog Backs Do Not Track Kids Bill; Says All Ages Deserve Protection
SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog has endorsed the bipartisan, bicameral Do Not Track Kids bill introduced in Congress today, but added…
Nov 14, 2013
Google’s European Antitrust Settlement Proposal Insufficient, Consumer Watchdog Says As Group Releases Google’s Latest Offer and Questions From European Commission
SANTA MONICA, CA. – Google’s latest proposal to settle a European antitrust investigation does nothing to solve the underlying problem of how…
Nov 6, 2013
Consumer Watchdog Challenges Google to Make EU Antitrust Settlement Offer Public; U.S. Public Interest Group Says It Will Release Latest Proposal If Internet Giant Won’t
SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog has challenged Google to make public its latest proposal to settle the European Commission’s antitrust investigation…
Nov 6, 2013
Google Leads Tech Firms in Lobbying Expenses; Facebook Spending Up 47 Percent
WASHINGTON, DC -- Google continued to lead tech firms in lobbying expenses during the third quarter, spending $3.4 million on its effort…
Oct 22, 2013