Privacy

Federal Trade Commissioner Tilts at Big Data Windmill

June 27, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p class="story-summary"><strong>From the there-oughtta-be-a-law department comes a proposal by a Federal Trade Commissioner, no less, to require big companies to pull back the curtains on their Big Data activities. Consumers should be able to exercise some control over their own data, argued Commissioner Julie Brill. The idea may be laudable, but implementation would likely be something else.</strong></p>

Crosstown Traffic: Why Google’s $1B Waze Deal Faces U.S. Antitrust Scrutiny

June 25, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Not so fast, <a href="http://topics.time.com/google/">Google</a>.</p>

FTC Probes Google-Waze $1.1 Billion Deal After Consumer Watchdog Cites Antitrust Issues

June 24, 2013  ·  John M. Simpson

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2512" alt="" src="http://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/images_ftc-hq.jpg" style="width: 150px; height: 150px; float: right;" width="100" height="100" />Less than two weeks ago after Google said it was buying Waze, developer of a mobile mapping application, for a reported $1.1 billion, the Federal Trade Commission has stepped in and said in effect, "wait just a minute here."<br /> <br />

Google-Waze Acquisition Will Be Investigated by the FTC

June 24, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong>Watchdog's action follows demands from consumer groups and is part of scrutiny of tech pioneer across the globe</strong></p>

Google Confirms Waze Acquisition Targeted in FTC Antitrust Probe

June 24, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Google revealed that Federal Trade Commission attorneys are investigating its $1.1 billion acquisition of Israeli crowdsourced location services firm Waze.</p> <p>A Google spokesperson confirmed the rumored antitrust review to <em>The Wall Street Journal</em> but declined to comment on details. Lawyers familiar with the antitrust investigation process say the FTC may have asked Google to halt integration with Waze, pending the outcome of its review. Representatives of the agency did not respond to a request for comment.</p>

Google’s $1.1 Billion Purchase of Waze Maps in FTC Antitrust Investigation

June 24, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Google has confirmed to the <a class="inline_link" href="http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2013/06/22/google-confirms-antitrust-review-of-waze-deal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wall Street Journal</a> that the company has been contacted by the Federal Trade Commission for an official antitrust review of <a class="inline_link" href="http://www.itproportal.com/2013/06/12/google-dishes-up-suspected-13b-to-purchase-waze-traffic-app/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Google's $1.1 billion (£716 million) acquisition of Waze</a>, announced earlier this month.</p>

US Authorities Probing Google-Waze Deal

June 23, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>Federal Trade Commission to examine possible anti-trust issues in Internet search giant's $1 billion acquisition of Israeli social mapping service, which may force Google to re-sell company</b></p>

A Good Day for Campaign Transparency at the FPPC

June 21, 2013  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2661" alt="" src="http://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/images_110922_fppc_logo.jpg" style="width: 134px; height: 129px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; float: right;" width="134" height="129" />The way voters get their news and education has rapidly changed from print and television sources to the online news marketplace, blogosphere and social media arenas.  At the same time, the regulations governing campaign expense reporting remain focused on traditional media, leaving voters without enough information to know if what they read online is independent, objective analysis or if it is bought and paid for.</p>

Battery Recycler in Vernon Allowed to Reopen — For Now

June 18, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>The state ordered the Exide plant to shut in April, citing arsenic emissions and calling it a public health risk. A judge rules it can restart operations, pending a hearing.</b></p> <p>A Vernon battery recycler shut by the state in April as a health risk to thousands of nearby residents will be allowed to reopen pending a court hearing next month, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge ruled Monday.</p> <p>Judge Luis A. Lavin said the public interest would not suffer if the plant were to operate in the meantime.</p>

DTSC Urged to Amend and Reissue the Existing Suspension Order; Exide’s Vernon Facility Should Be Shut Down Until All Facts Are Known

June 18, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>VERNON, CA--(Marketwired - Jun 18, 2013) - A broad coalition of residents, factory workers and community leaders are asking Judge Luis Lavin and public agencies to put the health of local communities, and families, before Exide's bottom line.</p>

Google’s Effort to Skirt Regulation May Invite More Scrutiny

June 18, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Google's motto is “don’t be evil.” But its recent acquisition of Waze, reportedly for $1 billion in cash, shows that just because you’re not evil, it doesn’t mean you can’t be aggressive in pushing the boundaries of the law.</p> <p>The question now is whether the United States government pushes back and forces Google to give back its new toy.</p>

BREAST CANCER GENES INCLUDED IN NEW TEST

June 15, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>Pathway to market DNA screening that looks for mutations</b></p> <p>A new cancer test from San Diego-based Pathway Genomics will include results for two breast cancer genes formerly patented by Myriad Genetics. A Supreme Court decision on Thursday invalidated those and other patents on naturally occurring DNA.</p> <p>Pathway’s Hereditary Cancer DNA Insight test will go on sale in August, said CEO Jim Plante. The test will screen for mutations in more than 30 genes involved in breast, ovarian, colorectal and other cancers.</p>