Privacy

Google’s Privacy Chief Is Stepping Down

April 1, 2013  ·  John M. Simpson

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2625" alt="" src="http://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/images_googleembedded1_0.jpg" style="width: 150px; height: 113px; float: right;" width="120" height="90" />Google's privacy chief, Alma Whitten, is stepping down the Internet giant confirmed Monday.  <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2013/04/01/googles-privacy-director-is-stepping-down/">Since word of her departure</a> came out on April Fools' Day many folks probably thought this was part of the company's annual elaborate pranks like its <a href="http://http://www.google.com/landing/nose/">"announcement" of a new service called "G

Return to Sender

April 1, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<table> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan="2"> <p class="pozbody"><strong><span id="tContent"><em>Anthem Blue Cross sued for requiring HIV clients to order meds through the mail.</em></span></strong></p>

Facebook’s Android-Themed Event Invite Redials Phone Chatter

March 29, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong>The media is once again cueing up its Facebook phone speculation, but this time it may be for good reason. An invitation to an April 4 company event mentions Android, and that is conjuring up visions not only of a Facebook-branded smartphone, but a custom-designed version of Google's operating system that plays up social network functionality and features. The possibility that user data may be leveraged is also getting the attention of privacy advocates.</strong></p>

State Fines Waste Management for Spills at Kettleman Toxic Dump

March 28, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Chemical Waste Management must pay $311,194 for failing to report dozens of spills at its Kettleman Hills toxic waste landfill, the state Department of Toxic Substances Control said Wednesday.</p> <p>But there's "no evidence to suggest" that toxic waste left the landfill or harmed the public, DTSC deputy director of enforcement Brian Johnson said.</p>

Consumer Watchdog Files 2nd Request Asking FTC To Act Against Google For Apps Privacy Violations

March 25, 2013  ·  John M. Simpson

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2623" alt="" src="http://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/images_ftcbldg_1.jpg" style="width: 250px; height: 167px; float: right;" width="600" height="400" />Consumer Watchdog has filed a <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/resources/ltrftc032213.pdf">second complaint</a> asking that the <a href="http://FTC.gov">Federal Trade Commission</a> act immediately against Google’s most recent privacy violation – sharing users’ personal information with apps developers -- after new information became available in a <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/resources/ltrgooglejohnson.pdf">letter from Google</a> to Rep.

Companies Press European Antitrust Regulators To Act Against Google

March 22, 2013  ·  John M. Simpson

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2571" alt="" src="http://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/images_europe_flag.jpg" style="float: right; height: 129px; width: 190px;" width="443" height="301" />Eleven Internet Companies are pressing <a data-mce-="" href="http://ec.europa.eu/competition/index_en.html">European antitrust regulators</a> to take strong action against Google so that the Internet giant's smaller rivals aren't hurt. And what happens across the pond in this case could have an impact on possible antitrust action in the United States.</p>

Beware of Google’s Mouthpieces About Google Glasses

March 14, 2013  ·  Jamie Court

<p>There are two ways to look at Google Glass, the eyeware-spyware the Internet Goliath is releasing later this year.  Glass half full: it services us for convenience. Glass half empty: it services the corporation by allowing our eye glasses to record every public and private moment that goes into a digital profile in the cloud so Google can serve us up to the corporations that want to reach us.<br /> <br />

Did Google Get Off Easy With $7 Million Wi-Spy Settlement?

March 13, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

Seven million dollars. That’s how much Internet giant Google will pay to settle a multi-year investigation into its controversial “Wi-Spy” data collection practices. The furor...

Google Hit With $7M Fine at the Privacy Tollbooth

March 13, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong>The controversy over Google's WiFi-poaching Street View cars ended with a whimper in the U.S., with the company getting a light fine and an order to educate its staff -- and consumers as well -- about privacy and security. "They'll post a video on YouTube, driving people to their platform where even more information will be collected about them," quipped consumer privacy advocate John Simpson.</strong></p>

Google Fined $7 Million Over Hotspot Data Grab

March 12, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>NEW YORK — Google agreed to pay a $7 million fine in the United States on Tuesday for stealthily collecting data from private Wi-Fi hotspots in a mapping service slip that irked an array of countries.</p> <p>In a legal settlement with attorneys general in 38 states, the Internet giant also agreed to ramp up employee training about data privacy and back a nationwide campaign to teach people about securing wireless networks.</p>

Google’s Wi-Fi Sniffing To Result In $7 Million Fine

March 12, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong>Slurp sparks states' slight slap</strong></p> <p>Google is reportedly close to settling with the 30 US states that were pursuing it over the infamous StreetView Wifi data slurp.</p> <p>In between practicing taking the decision seriously in public, there are probably fits of giggles breaking out in Google's boardroom, because according to <i>Reuters</i>, the <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/08/net-us-google-settlement-idUSBRE92719820130308">proposed</a> [1] settlement is $US7 million.</p>

Google Concedes That Drive-by Prying Violated Privacy

March 12, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>SAN FRANCISCO — <a class="meta-org" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/companies/google_inc/index.html?inline=nyt-org" title="More information about Google Inc">Google</a> on Tuesday acknowledged to state officials that it had violated people’s privacy during its Street View mapping project when it casually scooped up passwords, e-mail and other personal information from unsuspecting computer users.</p>