Second Fatal Tesla Crash Shows Firm Can’t Be Trusted, Need For Mandatory Safety Standards
SANTA MONICA, CA – The new revelation of a second fatal Tesla crash while the vehicle was likely on autopilot shows the…
Sep 14, 2016John 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
Consumer Watchdog Calls On President Obama To Hold New Policy On Autonomous Vehicles After Documents Show Inappropriate Relationship Between Google, Administration Officials
SANTA MONICA, CA -- Consumer Watchdog today called on President Obama to hold expected autonomous vehicle policies and stop the administration’s undue…
Sep 13, 2016
Consumer Watchdog Tells Uber to Make Robot Car Test Details Public; Poses 10 Key Questions
SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog today called on Uber to make public details of its testing of self-driving cars in Pittsburgh…
Sep 7, 2016
Robot Car Technology Requires Thorough Testing, Enforceable Safety Standards, Auto Safety Advocates Tell NHTSA Chief
SANTA MONICA, CA – Auto safety advocates today told National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) Administrator Mark Rosekind that “you inexcusably are rushing…
Jul 28, 2016
Google Continues To Lead Pack In Federal Lobbying Expenditures As Most Tech Firms Cut Outlays; Amazon, Oracle Set New Records In Second Quarter Spending
WASHINGTON -- Google trimmed its spending on federal lobbying in the second quarter of 2016 by 8.2 percent from the year before…
Jul 21, 2016
Auto Safety Advocates Tell Obama To Stop Rush To Get Self-Driving Cars On Road; Pull Back Autonomous Vehicle Technology ‘Guidance’ Expected Next Week
SANTA MONICA, CA – A coalition of auto safety advocates today called on President Obama to stop his “administration’s undue haste to…
Jul 13, 2016Consumer Watchdog Calls On Elon Musk To Disable Tesla’s Autopilot; Says Company Must Pledge To Be Liable For Self-Driving Failures If Feature Returns
Santa Monica, CA – In the wake of a fatal crash in Florida Consumer Watchdog called on Tesla Chairman and CEO Elon…
Jul 8, 2016
Consumer Watchdog Opposes California Sen. Hueso’s Bill That Would Limit Criticism Of Shady Business Practices
SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog today opposed SB 726, a California Senate Bill that would curtail the ability for critics to…
Jun 23, 2016
Consumer Watchdog Opposes Proposed LA Home Sharing Law That Violates Privacy
SANTA MONICA, CA -- Consumer Watchdog today said it opposes a proposed Los Angeles City ordinance that would require home sharing platforms…
Jun 15, 2016
Statement On NTIA Privacy Best Practice Recommendations For Commercial Facial Recognition Use
Washington D.C.—The “Privacy Best Practice Recommendations for Commercial Facial Recognition Use” that have finally emerged from the multistakeholder process convened by the…
Jun 15, 2016
Consumers Win Big On Internet Neutrality Court Ruling, Consumer Watchdog Says; Now Federal Communications Commission Must Tackle Privacy Regulations
SANTA MONICA, CA – Today’s federal appeals court ruling upholding the Federal Communications Commission’s net neutrality rules and saying broadband internet access…
Jun 14, 2016
FCC’s Set-top Box Plan Would Increase Competition And Cut Costs, But Should Not Be Enacted Unless Pandora’s Box Of Privacy Issues Are Solved, Consumer Watchdog Says
SANTA MONICA, CA – The Federal Communications Commission’s plan to open the set-top box market to competition offers savings to consumers, but…
May 24, 2016
Consumer Watchdog Calls On Top US Transportation Chiefs Not To Work For Self-Driving Car Industry; Four Former NHTSA Officials Now Lobby For Robot Carmakers
SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog today called on Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind to “slam the revolving…
May 18, 2016
Consumer Groups Back FCC Rulemaking On Internet Privacy Protections
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Consumer Watchdog today joined a coalition of a dozen consumer groups in supporting the Federal Communications Commission’s effort to…
May 11, 2016
Consumer Watchdog Says NHTSA Must Protect Safety, Require Steering Wheel, Driver In Robot Car Guidelines; Gives Google Self-Driving Car Project Execs Steering Wheel To Make Point
STANFORD, CA – Consumer Watchdog today called on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to require a steering wheel, brake and accelerator…
Apr 27, 2016
Google Slashes Lobbying Outlay 25.5 Percent To $3.80 Million As AT&T Leads Tech, Communications Group Spending With $4.48 Million; Facebook Spends $2.78 Million
WASHINGTON, DC -- Google slashed spending on lobbying by 25.5 percent in the first quarter of 2016 to $3.80 million, while AT&T…
Apr 21, 2016
Consumer Watchdog Urges Federal Trade Commission To File Antitrust Charges Against Google Over Android Operating System Abuses
SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog today urged the Federal Trade Commission to file antitrust charges against Alphabet Inc.’s Google for using…
Apr 20, 2016
Consumer Watchdog Calls On NHTSA To Require Steering Wheel, Driver In Robot Car Guidelines
WASHINGTON – Consumer Watchdog today called on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to require a steering wheel, brake and accelerator so…
Apr 8, 2016