Privacy

Google May Be Barking Up Wrong Tree With EU Watchdog Plan

November 8, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong>Among the details of Google's latest EU antitrust offer, which was leaked this week, is the appointment of an independent "monitoring trustee" to oversee Google's compliance over the next five years. However, Consumer Watchdog remains unimpressed, charging that none of the proposals in the document fix the underlying problem of how Google manipulates search results to unfairly advantage its own services.</strong></p>

Critics Blast Google’s European Antitrust Offer

November 6, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p itemprop="articleBody">Google's latest offer to settle a European investigation into the alleged abuse of its dominant positions in online search and advertising leaked out Wednesday, with one competitor calling it "a new form of abuse."</p> <p itemprop="articleBody">The European Union's competition commissioner, Joaquin Almunia, has praised Google's latest proposal as a "significant improvement" from earlier versions and appears to be near a decision to approve it. But Google competitors and some consumer groups are fiercely critical of the plan.</p>

Google’s Secret Search Offer To EU Antitrust Chief LEAKED By Rivals

November 6, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>REVEALED: Ad giant is now Trigger happy</b></p> <p>Google may have struck a deal with Brussels' competition chief to keep details of the ad giant's revised package of concessions over its search biz secret, but - perhaps inevitably - a copy of the offer has been leaked to <em>The Register</em> and other publications.</p> <p>An unnamed party sent <i>El Reg</i> a document containing 15 questions that the antitrust commissioner Joaquin Almunia's office submitted to complainants in the case and “interested stakeholders” (read: rivals) on 21 October.</p>

Google’s Secret Proposals Leaked As Dismay Over EU Antitrust Inquiry Grows

November 6, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><span itemprop="articleBody description text">Google's latest proposals aimed at avoiding an antitrust fine from European authorities have been leaked amid growing anger over the secrecy surrounding the case.</span></p>

What Is Google Building Out In San Francisco Bay?

November 5, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>San Francisco's mayor says he doesn't know what it is. Police say it's not their jurisdiction. And government inspectors are sworn to secrecy.<br /> <br /> Google is erecting a four-story structure in the heart of the San Francisco Bay but is managing to conceal its purpose by constructing it on docked barges instead of on land, where city building permits and public plans are mandatory. Construction became obvious a few weeks ago.<br /> <br />

Do Not Track Talks Will Continue Over Objections

October 30, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <p>Tech companies, online advertisers and privacy advocates will continue their attempts to outline a Do Not Track tool will continue, co-chairs of the World Wide Web Consortium's Do Not Track working group said Tuesday.</p>

Some Health Plans Cancelled Under New Law

October 29, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><a href="http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/health&id=9306450">Click here to view the news broadcast of this story</a>.</p> <p>LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Many people are getting hit with cancellation notices because their existing health care policies don't quality under the new health care law.</p>

Some Health Plans Cancelled Under New Law

October 29, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><a href="http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/health&id=9306450">Click here to view the news broadcast of this story</a>.</p> <p>LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Many people are getting hit with cancellation notices because their existing health care policies don't quality under the new health care law.</p>

Scathing Audit Of DTSC Permitting May Lead To 2014 Legislative Reforms

October 25, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>A recently unveiled independent audit that finds multiple shortcomings with the toxics department's permitting program may lead to legislation next year requiring major reforms, sources say. The report, commissioned by the department and conducted by an outside firm, found that agency staff have conflicting views about how to permit facilities, leaving the system open to manipulation.<br /> <br /> Environmentalists and others are calling on the department to set stronger permitting standards, clarify processes and stop accommodating permittees.<br /> <br />

Apple and Facebook Ramp Up Lobbying Efforts, But Still Trail Google

October 23, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>Search giant spent $3.4 million on lobbying US legislators last quarter, according to latest disclosures</b></p>

Is It Still Possible to Race Anonymously?

October 17, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>Desire for privacy clashes with heightened race security.</b></p>

Kids’ Personal Data Needs Protection From Tech Firms

October 14, 2013  ·  John M. Simpson

<p>As schools buy more software, applications and "cloud" computing services that gather and store increasing amounts of data about kids, there is growing concern that the information could be misused.<br /> <br />