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Consumer Watchdog

Privacy

Consumer Watchdog investigations and advocacy on data privacy, surveillance, AI, and your right to control your personal information.
Privacy Groups Criticize Proposed $8.5 Million Google Settlement

Privacy Groups Criticize Proposed $8.5 Million Google Settlement

<section class="page"> <p><span itemprop="articleBody description text">Five U.S. privacy groups have opposed a proposed $8.5 million settlement with Google in a class action lawsuit over search privacy, as it fails to require Google to change its business practices, they said. </span></p>
Google Outage Shows Internet Giant’s Reach

Google Outage Shows Internet Giant’s Reach

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2674" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/images_googleapps_1.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 222px; float: right;" width="270" height="300" />There's no disputing the fact that Google exerts tremendous power over our online lives, but the extent of its reach was made crystal clear late last week.  <br /> <br />
Consumer Watchdog Barks Back at Google

Consumer Watchdog Barks Back at Google

<p>Consumer Watchdog barked back at Google's claim that "a person has no legitimate expectation of privacy in information he voluntarily turns over to third parties" by urging Gmail's 400 million users to stop using the email service.  </p>
Google Lawsuit Stirs Debate Over Email Privacy Rights

Google Lawsuit Stirs Debate Over Email Privacy Rights

<p><b>Critics condemn internet giant over 'no legitimate expectation of privacy' argument</b></p> <p> </p> <div id="storybody" role="main"> <p>A U.S. consumer advocacy group has reignited the debate over online privacy after it unearthed a court document in which Google argues that anyone sending messages to Gmail’s 425 million users should not expect privacy.</p>
Google On Gmail: ‘No Legitimate Expectation’ Of Privacy

Google On Gmail: ‘No Legitimate Expectation’ Of Privacy

<p>Gmail users have no "legitimate expectation" their emails are private, Google Inc. said in a California court filing seeking a class-action lawsuit's dismissal.<br /> <br /> The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in San Jose, accuses the multinational high-tech giant of breaking U.S. wiretap laws by scanning all emails to target Gmail users for advertising.<br /> <br /> Gmail is a free, advertising-supported email service. The service also automatically scans all emails to filter spam.<br /> <br />
Google Reads Your Gmail?

Google Reads Your Gmail?

<p>This might not be surprising to many. But Google recently admitted that "'a person has no legitimate expectation of privacy" when she uses Gmail.</p>
Google: Gmail Users Shouldn’t Expect Email Privacy

Google: Gmail Users Shouldn’t Expect Email Privacy

<p><strong>Critics call revelation 'a stunning admission' as Google makes claim in court filing in attempt to head off class action lawsuit</strong></p> <p>Gmail users have no "reasonable expectation" that their emails are confidential, <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/160134104/Google-Motion-to-Dismiss-061313">Google has said in a court filing</a>.</p>
Google Under Fire Over Gmail Privacy Remarks

Google Under Fire Over Gmail Privacy Remarks

<p>Google is making headlines this week for a court filing that some have interpreted as an admission that Gmail users should have no expectation of privacy while using the service.</p> <p>The statement came as part of a <a data-ls-seen="1" href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/resources/googlemotion061313.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">motion to dismiss</a> a class-action case that accused Google of violating federal and state wiretap laws via a program in Gmail that scans emails to serve up targeted ads.</p>
Gmail Users Or People Who Email Them Should NOT Expect Privacy, Google Claims In A Stunning Admission

Gmail Users Or People Who Email Them Should NOT Expect Privacy, Google Claims In A Stunning Admission

<ul style="font-weight: bold;"> <li> <font style="font-size:1.4em;">The statement was made in response to a lawsuit accusing Google of violating privacy laws when its reads emails</font></li> <li> <font style="font-size:1.4em;">It follows a string of accusations against Google for it privacy policies</font></li> <li> <font style="font-size:1.4em;">Last week, the group's Android phone operating system revealed a feature that will track user's locations even when Wi-Fi is turned off</font></li> </ul>
Google Sends Clear Message: There’s No Privacy on Gmail

Google Sends Clear Message: There’s No Privacy on Gmail

<p>In response to a lawsuit against it, the information giant acknowledged that no one using Gmail or emailing a Gmail account holder should expect the content of his or her correspondence to remain exclusive. The class-action suit complained that when Google read emails to display targeted ads, it was encroaching upon wiretap laws, on both a federal and state level.</p> <p>Google’s glib reply is reported by <a href="http://www.ciol.com/ciol/news/193371/gmail-users-expect-privacy-sending-mails-google" title="Consumer Watchdog">Consumer Watchdog</a>:</p>
Google Tells US Court: Gmail Users Can’t Expect Privacy

Google Tells US Court: Gmail Users Can’t Expect Privacy

<p><strong>A lawsuit says the tech giant is breaking the law when it scans emails to target adverts to users</strong></p> <p>Users of Google’s email service Gmail should have no “legitimate expectation” that their emails will remain private, the company has said in a submission to a US court.</p> <div class="storyContent"> <div class="body" style="text-align:justify;"> <p>Consumer Watchdog (CW), a US pressure group, described Google’s statement as a “stunning admission” of the extent to which internet users’ privacy is compromised.</p>