John M. Simpson

Privacy

Groups tell Facebook to improve privacy

Consumer Watchdog today joined a lineup of ten of the nation’s top privacy groups and sent an open letter to Facebook calling…

Jun 16, 2010

Privacy

Standing up to Google’s heavy-handed pressure

I was in Washington, DC, last week to attend EPIC's Champion of Freedom Awards Dinner.  One honoree in particular prompted the cross-country…

Jun 9, 2010

Consumer Groups Call on FTC to Investigate Latest Google Ad Company Purchase

Consumer Watchdog and the Center for Digital Democracy today called on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Google’s announced plan to buy…

Jun 3, 2010

Privacy

Traffic Report: How Google Is Squeezing Out Competitors and Muscling Into New Markets

Google's dramatic gains are revealed by an analysis of internet traffic data for more than 100 popular websites. Once upon a time,…

Jun 2, 2010

Consumer Watchdog Urges State Attorneys General To Probe Google’s WiSpy Snooping

SANTA MONICA, CA —  Consumer Watchdog today called on the state attorneys general to investigate Google’s WiSpy snooping in their respective states…

May 26, 2010

Privacy

Google needs to come clean on WiSpy

As the WiSpy scandal unfolded last week CEO Eric Schmidt, speaking in England, tried to calm the furor by claiming "no harm,…

May 25, 2010

Privacy

Google shows the way on search engine encryption; others must follow

Google has announced that it is now offering pri...

May 23, 2010

Consumer Watchdog Says FTC’s Google-AdMob Decision Will Hurt Consumers

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Federal Trade Commission’s decision allowing the $750 million deal for Google to buy mobile advertising company AdMob is…

May 21, 2010

Privacy

Latest Facebook privacy intrusion touches Google

In the latest revelation in a seemingly never ending stream of privacy breaches by online companies, we now know that Facebook and…

May 21, 2010

Privacy

We’re number one… or not. The vagaries of Google’s search engine.

As we ready Inside Google, now in "Beta" mode, for its formal launch I've been checking various search engines to see where…

May 12, 2010

Privacy

Can Google explain this search result?

As we have been putting Consumer Watchdog's new Inside Google Website through its paces while it's still in "Beta" mode,  I discovered…

May 11, 2010

Privacy

Consumer Watchdog Targets Google

Simpson acknowledges that Consumer Watchdog's strategy is to grab attention on a complex topic that is often overlooked in Washington. Drawing from…

May 9, 2010

Insurance

Decision Could Boost Stem Cell Research

Wisconsin Group's Patent Rejected Consumer groups that challenged the patents claimed a major victory Monday. "These patents have been very detrimental to…

May 4, 2010

Patent on Human Embryonic Stem Cells Rejected After Consumer Groups’ Appeal

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In what two consumer groups today praised as a victory for open scientific inquiry, the U.S. Patent and Trademark…

May 3, 2010

Privacy

Ohio AG backs antitrust suit against Google

In yet another indication of the seriousness of the mounting antitrust concerns about Goolge, the Ohio Attorney General, Richard A. Cordray, has…

May 1, 2010

Privacy

Watchdog Calls for Google Break-Up – Urges DoJ To Investigate

John M Simpson, consumer advocate at the group, said: “Google exerts monopoly power over Internet searches, controlling 70 percent of the U.S.…

Apr 23, 2010

Privacy

Google Spent $1.3 Million on Lobbying, What Are They Buying?

Consumer Watchdog, a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization, revealed today that Google upped its spending on Washington lobbyists by a mammoth 57% from…

Apr 21, 2010

Consumer Watchdog Calls on Justice Department to Launch Antitrust Action Against Google, Including Possible Breakup

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Consumer Watchdog today called on the U.S. Department of Justice to launch a broad antitrust action against Google seeking…

Apr 21, 2010