Rage for Justice 40th Anniversary of Consumer Watchdog
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In The News

San Francisco Standard – We’re not just watching prices – prices are watching us

By Justin Kloczko, SAN FRANCISCO STANDARD https://sfstandard.com/opinion/2025/05/27/were-not-watching-prices-prices-are-watching-us You’re at home, scrolling online to find a nearby store to buy a TV. You find one, drive to the store and park, then pull...
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In The News

Los Angeles Times – Sam Altman’s eye-scanning orbs have arrived, sparking curiosity and fear

By Queenie Wong, LOS ANGELES TIMES https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2025-05-12/dystopian-aesthetic-in-california-sam-altmans-eye-scanning-orbs-spark-curiosity-and-resistance Earlier this month, a mysterious store selling a vision of the future opened its doors in downtown San Francisco's Union Square district.  A cryptic message...
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In The News

Cal Matters – California’s battle over data privacy and algorithm protections reaches a crossroads

By Justin Klozcko, CALMATTERS https://calmatters.org/commentary/2025/04/california-data-privacy-protections-crossroads/ Let’s say you work in the food service industry for a large company, whose scheduling software assigns shifts to workers. For you, which shifts you receive...
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In The News

94.1 KPFA: A Rude Awakening – Consumer Watchdog Report: Dirty Deal

On today’s show, California’s autonomy over its utilities is under threat according to a new report by Consumer Watchdog entitled, “Dirty Deal:  How A Corporate Utility Fixer Is Poised To...
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In The News

Fast Company – California Lawmakers Take on ‘Surveillance Pricing’ as FTC Retreats

By Scott Nover, FAST COMPANY https://www.fastcompany.com/91304742/california-lawmakers-take-on-surveillance-pricing-as-ftc-retreats You pay $75 more for your hotel room than the guest in an identical room next to yours. A friend is charged an extra $10...
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In The News

CalMatters – AI can rip you off. Here’s how California lawmakers want to stop price discrimination

By Khari Johnson, CALMATTERS https://calmatters.org/economy/technology/2025/03/artificial-intelligence-price-discrimination/ California lawmakers want to stop artificial intelligence from ripping you off.  In recent weeks they introduced five bills to address the issue, making predictive pricing based on...
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In The News

Wallet Hub – Google Quality Issues: Part of an Intentional Strategy?

By John S Kiernan, WALLET HUB https://wallethub.com/blog/google-quality-issues-report/147091#expert=Justin_Kloczko:~:text=the%20coming%20years%3F-,Justin%20Kloczko,-Journalist%20and%20Author Google is the portal to the internet for millions of people, serving not just as the bridge between searchers and information but also increasingly...
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In The News

The Sacramento Bee – California bill would end ‘surveillance pricing’

By Andrew Sheeler, SACRAMENTO BEE https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article299929444.html Should businesses be allowed to charge you more for the price of goods and services based on a data profile they have on you? That...
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In The News

Cal Matters – Wall Street is betting big on AI. California consumers must be protected

By Justin Kloczko, CAL MATTERS https://calmatters.org/commentary/2024/03/wall-street-ai-california-protections Artificial intelligence may soon replace financial advisors, and that’s just the start. While one algorithm predicts stock price, another decides what to disclose to regulators....
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In The News

San Francisco Chronicle – California data privacy ballot measure can take effect immediately, court rules

By Bob Egelko, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/prop-24-data-privacy-18659367.php Californians can now enforce a ballot measure that seeks to protect privacy rights by allowing consumers to stop businesses from using or selling information...
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In The News

Cal Matters – California plans to use AI to answer your tax questions

By Khari Johnson, CAL MATTERS https://calmatters.org/economy/technology/2024/02/cdtfa-generative-ai A constant hum fills the air at California's tax agency this time of year phones ring and keyboards clack as hundreds of thousands of Californians...
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In The News

The Messenger – Tesla Faces Growing Legal Challenges Over Autopilot Amid Massive Recall

By William Gavin, THE MESSENGER https://themessenger.com/business/tesla-faces-growing-legal-challenges-over-autopilot-amid-massive-recall Before Tesla issued a recall covering more than 2 million electric vehicles over software issues, at least a dozen lawsuits had been filed against...
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In The News

Bloomberg Law – California’s Draft AI Privacy Rules Show Ambitious Approach

By Titus Wu, BLOOMBERG LAW https://news.bloomberglaw.com/privacy-and-data-security/californias-draft-ai-privacy-rules-show-ambitious-approach Draft rules from California’s privacy agency show the state plans to go much further than any other in its regulation of automated tools, including artificial...
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In The News

Politico – Call to Investigate Clearview AI

By Alfred Ng, POLITICO A California consumer advocacy group wants the state’s attorney general and privacy enforcement agency to look into the conduct of Clearview AI, a controversial facial recognition...
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In The News

Politico – Giving Californians an out on AI

By Blake Jones, POLITICO https://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-playbook-pm/2023/11/27/giving-californians-an-out-on-ai-00128791 With help from Alfred Ng TUNE IN, OPT OUT: Artificial intelligence can help decide whether you get a job, bank loan or housing — but such uses of the technology could soon be...
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In The News

The Press-Enterprise – LA City Hall scandals never go away

By The Editorial Board, PRESS-ENTERPRISE https://www.pressenterprise.com/2023/11/16/la-city-hall-scandals-never-go-away/ There are new developments in some of the Los Angeles City Hall scandals, which continue to multiply like rabbits. Last Wednesday, the City Council agreed to...
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In The News

Repairer Driven News – Waymo & Cruise approved for San Francisco 24-hour operation of robotaxis

By lurch Lowery, REPAIRER DRIVEN NEWS https://www.repairerdrivennews.com/2023/08/16/waymo-cruise-approved-for-san-francisco-24-hour-operation-of-robotaxis/ Following millions of miles driven on public roads and billions in driving courses and simulations, rival robotaxi companies Waymo and Cruise have been given approval to...
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In The News

BBC – Robotaxi expansion gets green light in San Francisco

BBC News https://www.bbc.com/news/business-66478070 Two "robotaxi" firms have been given the green light to start charging for service throughout San Francisco. The move marks a major expansion for the companies, which previously faced...
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In The News

Fox KTVU – Calls mount for California to hit brakes on driverless vehicles

By Freddy Brewster, FOX KTVU https://www.ktvu.com/news/calls-mount-for-california-to-hit-brakes-on-driverless-vehicles SAN FRANCISCO - The California Public Utilities Commission is set to decide the fate of driverless vehicles and the future of taxi riding in San Francisco at...
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In The News

Sacramento Bee – Your car is recording your every move. A California agency wants to investigate.

By Andrew Sheeler, SACRAMENTO BEE https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article277828718.html CALIFORNIA PRIVACY AGENCY TO INVESTIGATE VEHICLE DATA MINING Modern cars do more than get you from Point A to Point B. With sophisticated, internet-enabled onboard computers,...
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In The News

Reuters – California agency probes automakers’ data privacy practices

By David Shepardson, REUTERS https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/california-agency-probes-automakers-data-privacy-practices-2023-07-31/ WASHINGTON, July 31 (Reuters) - A California state agency on Monday said it is reviewing the privacy practices of automakers and vehicle technology companies amid concerns...
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In The News

The Hill – California privacy regulator reviewing data collected by smart vehicles

By Miranda Nazzaro, THE HILL https://thehill.com/policy/technology/4129237-california-privacy-regulator-reviewing-data-collected-by-smart-vehicles/ California’s privacy regulator said Monday it will be reviewing the data privacy practices of connected car manufacturers.   Connected cars offer drivers smart features including web-based entertainment,...
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In The News

Bloomberg Law – California’s Work on AI Laws Stalls Amid Fiscal, Tech Concerns

By Titus Wu, BLOOMBERG LAW https://news.bloomberglaw.com/artificial-intelligence/californias-work-on-ai-laws-stalls-amid-fiscal-tech-concerns California lawmakers have encountered roadblocks this year in their efforts to put guardrails around artificial intelligence and automation, thanks to a combination of a poor...
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In The News

Detroit Free Press – Vehicle Cybersecurity Gets Boost from Defense Department

By Eric D. Lawrence, DETROIT FREE PRESS freep.com/story/money/cars/2023/05/23/defense-department-automotive-cybersecurity-udm-viceroy/70238098007/ Kevin Tierney said he has been talking to officials at various universities for at least a decade about the issue of cybersecurity and...
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In The News

Bloomberg Law – California Privacy Agency Faces Lobbying in Writing AI Rules

By Titus Wu, BLOOMBERG LAW https://news.bloomberglaw.com/privacy-and-data-security/california-privacy-agency-faces-lobbying-in-writing-ai-rules Tech companies and privacy advocates are lobbying the California Privacy Protection Agency as it prepares to write new rules to guard against abuses caused by...
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In The News

OP-ED Cal Matters – Tech Industry Wants to Derail Data Privacy Protections Sought by California Voters

By Justin Kloczko, CAL MATTERS https://calmatters.org/commentary/2023/05/tech-privacy-protections-california-voters/ Getting denied a home loan, never hearing back from that job you applied for – these things happen all the time, but more and...
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In The News

Big Banks Deny Refunds To Vast Majority Of Scammed Zelle Users, Report Says

Four banks alone expect more than $255 million in scam and fraud claims in 2022. By Ashley Belanger, ARS TECHINCA October 5, 2022 https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2022/10/zelle-fraud-is-on-the-rise-and-many-victims-are-denied-refunds/ When seven of the biggest banks in America saw...
Mary Kozanian -
In The News

mLex – Comment: Handling of Data for Connected Cars Draws Scrutiny Over Privacy Concerns

By Xu Yuan, MLEX https://mlexmarketinsight.com/news/comment/comment-handling-of-data-for-connected-cars-draws-scrutiny-over-privacy-concerns Automakers’ promise of a personalized “smart” driving experience based on connected technologies like smartphones is already meeting resistance from privacy advocates over how the automakers handle...
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In The News

Federal Shutdown Put Drivers At Risk, Safety Groups Say

By Keith Laing, THE DETROIT NEWS January 31, 2019 https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/2019/02/01/shutdown-put-drivers-risk-safety-groups-say/2713121002/ Washington — The five-week partial government shutdown hobbled the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s ability to enforce automotive recalls and investigate thousands of complaints about potential safety...
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In The News

Op-Ed: Rein In Robot Cars, Or Humans Will Lose The Right Of Way

By Jamie Court, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES January 11, 2019 https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-court-self-driving-cars-20190111-story.html People are fighting back against robot cars. Self-driving cars being tested in Arizona by Waymo, a Google sister company, have been attacked...
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In The News

AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint Seek To Make Amends Over Location Breach

By Matt Kapko, FIERCE WIRELESS January 11, 2019 https://www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/u-s-carriers-caught-selling-customers-location-data-to-third-parties-again The U.S. wireless industry has been caught in a fresh scandal amid a new report that detailed how three of the nation’s largest...
Mary Kozanian -
News Story

‘Privacy’ Bill to Gut State Identity Theft Laws, in Addition To Pre-empting State Privacy Laws

A far-reaching bill to reauthorize the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) will override state financial privacy laws and gut state identity theft protections
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