23 US Public Interest Groups Back European Union Data Protection Regulation
WASHINGTON – A coalition of 23 US consumer, privacy and public interest groups today wrote the European Parliament expressing strong support for…
Oct 16, 2013John 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
Five Public Interest Groups Underscore Opposition To Settlement In Google Privacy Suit
SANTA MONICA, CA -- Consumer Watchdog joined the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) and three other public interest groups today in re-iterating…
Oct 16, 2013
Privacy
Kids’ Personal Data Needs Protection From Tech Firms
As schools buy more software, applications and "cloud" computing services that gather and store increasing amounts of data about kids, there is…
Oct 14, 2013
Gmail Judge Holds Internet Accountable To Wiretap Laws In Key Consumer Victory
SANTA MONICA, CA -- In a seminal decision for online privacy, a federal judge in San Jose, CA., today rejected Google's claims…
Sep 26, 2013
Investigation Reveals Google Executives Dodged Taxes On Planes Based At Moffett Field In Sweetheart Deal
SANTA MONICA, CA -- Google’s top executives avoided paying millions of dollars in local property taxes on their fleet of aircraft based…
Sep 24, 2013
Ad Industry Association’s Withdrawal From Do Not Track Negotiations Shows Need For Legislation, Consumer Watchdog Says
SANTA MONICA, CA – The withdrawal today of a major advertising trade association from a group trying to write a Do Not…
Sep 17, 2013
Pentagon Ends Sweetheart Fuel Deal For Google Execs’ Aircraft At Moffett Highlighted By Consumer Watchdog Two Years Ago
SANTA MONICA – The Pentagon has ended a deal described two years ago by Consumer Watchdog that allowed a company owned by…
Sep 13, 2013
In The Courtroom
U.S. Appeals Court Rules Google Not Exempt From Wiretap Law In Wi-Spy Suit
SANTA MONICA, CA – A federal appeals court ruled today that Google’s interception of messages from private Wi-Fi networks is not exempt…
Sep 10, 2013
Consumer Watchdog Urges European Commission To Charge Google In Antitrust Probe
SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog today called on the European Commission to file a formal Statement of Objections against Google in…
Sep 10, 2013
Privacy Groups Urge FTC To Block Pending Facebook Privacy Changes
WASHINGTON, DC – A coalition of six consumer privacy groups is calling on the Federal Trade Commission to enforce an earlier consent…
Sep 5, 2013
Human Stem Cell Patent Covers Ineligible Subject Matter And Work Was ‘Obvious,’ Consumer Watchdog, Public Patent Foundation Tell Court In Bid For Patent Rejection
WASHINGTON, DC – A patent on human embryonic stem cells held by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) “covers ineligible subject matter…
Sep 3, 2013
Consumer Watchdog Calls On Gov. Brown To Sign ‘Do Not Track’ Legislation, But Cautions Law Is Only A Step Towards Knowledge, Not Full Consumer Power
SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog today urged Gov. Jerry Brown to sign a Do Not Track bill just passed by the…
Aug 28, 2013
Consumer Watchdog Joins EPIC In Opposing $8.5 Million Settlement In Google Suit
SANTA MONICA, CA. – Consumer Watchdog joined the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) and three other public interest groups today in opposing…
Aug 22, 2013
Privacy
Google Outage Shows Internet Giant’s Reach
There's no disputing the fact that Google exerts tremendous power over our online lives, but the extent of its reach was made…
Aug 19, 2013
Google Is Either Lying To The Court Or To The Public, Consumer Watchdog Says
UPDATE!: @ConsumerWD's Reddit AMA will begin at 2:30 pm (Pacific time). Join John Simpson to discuss Google & Privacy at http://redd.it/1kfl5x
Aug 15, 2013Google Tells Court You Cannot Expect Privacy When Sending Messages to Gmail — People Who Care About Privacy Should Not Use Service, Consumer Watchdog Says
SANTA MONICA, CA -- In a stunning admission contained in a brief filed recently in federal court, lawyers for Google said people…
Aug 12, 2013
Effort To Craft Apps “Transparency Code” Shows Futility of Multi-Stakeholder Process
WASHINGTON, DC – A yearlong effort convened by the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Agency (NTIA) demonstrates the futility of crafting…
Jul 25, 2013
Tech Companies Continue Pumping Millions Into Lobbying As Google Tops $3 Million, Facebook Spending Rises 10 Percent, Microsoft Posts Record $2.96 Million For Quarter
WASHINGTON, DC – Technology companies continued to pump money into their lobbying efforts during the second quarter, with Google leading the pack…
Jul 23, 2013