Privacy

FBI, NSA Mining Data from 9 Leading Internet Firms

June 7, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>New documents reveal that the National Security Agency and the FBI are secretly gathering data from nine large U.S. internet companies.</p> <p>The Washington Post reported that the secret wiretapping program codenamed PRISM may be unprecedented.</p> <p>The internet companies involved include Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, Facebook, PalTalk, AOL, Skype, YouTube, and Apple, the report said.</p> <p>The classified program allows the government agencies to extract audio, video, photographs, emails and documents to track individuals, according to the report.</p>

Google Critics Say The Eyes Don’t Have It

June 7, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Google shareholders, please turn off your Google Glass.</p> <p>The tech giant’s ban on recording devices at its shareholder meeting drew fire from a consumer watchdog group, which called the policy hypocritical considering that Google’s high-tech eyewear makes it possible to record video and sound with the blink of an eye.</p> <p>At the company’s annual meeting yesterday in Mountain View, Calif., John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog called the Web-connected eyewear “one of the most privacy intrusive, Orwellian devices ever.”</p>

Oops, Google Glass Too Invasive for Shareholders’ Meeting

June 6, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Turns out, <a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_23274277/google-glass-cool-or-creepy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">consumer privacy advocates </a>and <a href="http://www.siliconbeat.com/2013/06/06/oops-google-glass-too-invasive-for-shareholders-meeting/www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_23395600/casinos-ban-gamblers-from-using-google-glass" target="_blank" rel="noopener">casinos</a> aren’t the only ones concerned with the invasive nature of Google Glass.

Google Chief Says Glass Privacy Fears Will Fade

June 6, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>SAN FRANCISCO — Google chief Larry Page assured investors that privacy fears about the company's coming Internet glasses will fade as people incorporate the eyewear into their lives.</p> <p>"People worry about all sorts of things that actually, when we use the product, it is not that big a concern," Page said while fielding questions at an annual shareholders meeting at the company headquarters in Silicon Valley.</p>

Google Glass Won’t Allow Facial Recognition Apps For Now

June 3, 2013  ·  John M. Simpson

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2647" alt="" src="http://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/images_th.jpg" style="width: 175px; height: 200px; float: right;" width="263" height="300" />Google is apparently reacting to widespread concerns about one of the most privacy invasive and Orwellian potential applications for its computerized eyeglasses known as Google Glass. Late Friday <a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9239714/Google_nixes_Glass_facial_recognition_due_to_privacy_concerns?taxonomyId=18">the Internet giant said</a> it won't -- for now -- allow facial recognition software on the device.<br /> <br />

EDITORIAL: State Must Dig To Bottom Of This Toxic Mess

June 3, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Apparently, Caltrans isn't the only state agency that needs thorough scrutiny. Evidence is mounting that the state Department of Toxic Substances Control could use a good scrubbing as well.</p> <p>The Sacramento Bee's Jim Sanders reported Thursday that the agency has spent more than $100 million in public money since 1987 to clean up 1,700 contaminated sites across California, but has yet to bill the polluters.</p>

Seniors Being Targeted With Medical Alert Scam

June 2, 2013  ·  John M. Simpson

<p><script type="text/javascript" src="http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/embed.js?id=2469910595001&w=466&h=263"></script><noscript>Watch the latest video at <a href="http://video.foxbusiness.com">video.foxbusiness.com</a></noscript>Consumer Watchdog Privacy Project Director John Simpson on the latest scam targeting senior citizens.</p>

Google Get Close To Crossing ‘Creepy Line’

June 1, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Google is flirting with what Chairman Eric Schmidt once called “the creepy line.”</p> <p class="News-body-text">At its recent developer conference, the Mountain View, Calif., search giant showcased a number of new personalized technologies that many consumers will find useful, such as alerts of upcoming flights and restaurant recommendations.</p>

Editorial: State Toxics Agency Could Use A Cleanup

June 1, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Apparently, Caltrans isn't the only state agency that needs thorough scrutiny. Evidence is mounting that the state Department of Toxic Substances Control could use a good scrubbing as well.</p> <p>The Bee's Jim Sanders reported Thursday that the agency has spent more than $100 million in public money since 1987 to clean up 1,700 contaminated sites across California, but has yet to bill the polluters.</p>

DTSC Admits It Failed to Collect Millions Owed to CA

May 31, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>Toxic regulator reveals it has not recouped $185 million in public funds from polluters</b></p> <p>The state agency in charge of regulating toxic polluters admitted Thursday that it failed to collect $185 million the state spent cleaning up contaminated sites such as junkyards, small businesses and property owned by large companies including Chevron. That means California taxpayers have been on the hook for a quarter of a century.</p>

State Toxics Control Agency Admits Not Collecting $184.5 Million in Cleanup Fees

May 31, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>The state agency that regulates toxic polluters regularly spends millions of dollars to clean up sites without collecting money from the responsible parties.</p>

California Toxics Agency Fails to Collect from Polluters

May 31, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>The state Department of Toxic Substances Control has prioritized cleanup over reimbursement, agency memo says. Toxics director says collection efforts are being stepped up.</b></p> <p>The state agency responsible for protecting Californians from toxic contamination has spent more than $145 million over the last 25 years cleaning up hazardous waste sites but failed to collect reimbursement from the companies responsible for the pollution, according to information provided by the agency Thursday.</p>