Accountability
DTSC Second-In-Command Under Investigation for Ethics Violations
Listen to or download the audio of this radio broadcast segment here.
Apr 4, 2013Mark Reback
Articles by Mark Reback
Insurance
California Turns to Consumer Group for Help with Health Insurance Rates Review
The California insurance department has called on Consumer Watchdog to help review health insurance rates increases following Commissioner Dave Jones' censure of…
Apr 4, 2013
Insurance
Insurers Cry Foul As State Official Hires Foe
The commissioner's enlistment of Consumer Watchdog to help review health rates raises eyebrows. Callifornia Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones lashed out Tuesday at…
Apr 3, 2013
Privacy
6 Euro Nations Scream at Google Over Privacy
Google said last year that streamlining its privacy policies would make for simpler, better services. All the company has done, however, is…
Apr 3, 2013
Privacy
Google’s Privacy Director Resigns
Alma Whitten worked at Google since 2003. She took over as Google's privacy director in 2010. Following the resignation some privacy advocates…
Apr 2, 2013
Privacy
Return to Sender
Anthem Blue Cross sued for requiring HIV clients to order meds through the mail.
Apr 1, 2013
In The News
World Wide Internet Group Gets Lost In Weeds As It Tries to Define ‘Do Not Track’
Creating A Standard Is Tougher Than It Looks, Apparently The World Wide Web Consortium, an international group of academics, consumer advocates, and…
Mar 29, 2013
Privacy
Facebook’s Android-Themed Event Invite Redials Phone Chatter
The media is once again cueing up its Facebook phone speculation, but this time it may be for good reason. An invitation…
Mar 29, 2013
Privacy
State Fines Waste Management for Spills at Kettleman Toxic Dump
Chemical Waste Management must pay $311,194 for failing to report dozens of spills at its Kettleman Hills toxic waste landfill, the state…
Mar 28, 2013
Insurance
Insurers Keen On Retaining Power Over Premiums
While most of us face uncertainty with the rollout of healthcare reform, some insurance companies in California have been feeling their oats…
Mar 27, 2013
Insurance
Gas Prices Going Up, Up, Up
Are you ready for $6-per-gallon gasoline? Then $7 a little later? Premium grades of gasoline already go for more than $5 per…
Mar 24, 2013
Insurance
Just Say ‘No’ To Rate Hikes
"There you go again." That famous phrase was uttered in a debate by presidential candidate Ronald Reagan in response to his perceptions…
Mar 24, 2013
Insurance
DTSC Director Issues Response To Scathing Report On Agency Managers
Toxics department director Debbie Raphael this week issued a statement on the agency's website defending its top managers and policies against a…
Mar 22, 2013
Energy
Consumer Watchdog Presses For Investigation Of Two State Officials
Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast. SAN DIEGO — Consumer Watchdog is not convinced that Chief Deputy…
Mar 15, 2013
Privacy
Did Google Get Off Easy With $7 Million Wi-Spy Settlement?
Seven million dollars. That’s how much Internet giant Google will pay to settle a multi-year investigation into its controversial “Wi-Spy” data collection…
Mar 13, 2013
Privacy
Google Hit With $7M Fine at the Privacy Tollbooth
The controversy over Google's WiFi-poaching Street View cars ended with a whimper in the U.S., with the company getting a light fine…
Mar 13, 2013
Privacy
Google Concedes That Drive-by Prying Violated Privacy
SAN FRANCISCO — Google on Tuesday acknowledged to state officials that it had violated people’s privacy during its Street View mapping project…
Mar 12, 2013
Privacy
FTC: Ads On Mobile, Social Media Must Show Disclosures
Marketers hawking diet pills and other questionable goods on social media will have to be more forthcoming. Digital ads that pop up…
Mar 12, 2013