Privacy

Google Accused of Sharing Users’ Private Info

March 5, 2013 · Mark Reback

After <a href="http://blogs.lawyers.com/2012/11/google-pays-22-million-privacy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">all of the trouble</a> Google has encountered in its attempts to monetize its users’ information, you would think the company had learned its lesson. Think again – consumer groups are angry that Google has <a href="http://rt.com/usa/google-privacy-android-app-429/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> been improperly sharing app purchasers’ info with third-party developers.

Rockefeller Reintroduces Legislation To Set Mandatory Do-Not-Track Rules

March 5, 2013 · Mark Reback

Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.), chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Feb. 28 reintroduced a do-not-track bill (<a class="bluenobold" href="http://op.bna.com/der.nsf/r?Open=sbay-95d25a">S. 418</a>) aimed at allowing consumers to opt out of having their activities followed by online services and mobile application providers.

Do Not Track Bill Is Back On The Table

March 1, 2013 · Consumer Watchdog

Impatient with the glacial progress so far, Senator Jay Rockefeller is having another shot at getting a Do Not Track bill through Congress.

Rockefeller Introduces Do Not Track Bill, Is Backed By Consumer Watchdog

March 1, 2013 · Consumer Watchdog

Senator Jay Rockefeller has introduced a Do Not Track bill, which would require the FTC to make standards regarding consumers’ ability to opt-out of having their information collected. This is following the first Do Not Track report <a href="http://www.slashgear.com/ftc-do-not-track-paper-suffers-opt-in-concern-27220252/">we saw back in 2011</a>, which was a variant of the current bill. Consumer Watchdog has jumped into the mix, backing the bill.

Watchdog Alleges Google Leaked Personal Data To App Developers

February 25, 2013 · Mark Reback

<a href="http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2013/02/25/watchdog-alleges-google-leaked-personal-data-to-app-developers/">Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast</a>. SANTA MONICA (CBSLA.com) — A consumer advocate group on Monday urged California Attorney General Kamala Harris to investigate whether alleged privacy violations by Google were in violation of state law.

Consumer Watchdog Calls On Federal Trade Commission To Act Against Google’s App Store Privacy Violations; Says Penalties Should Be In Billions of Dollars

February 25, 2013 · John M. Simpson

<img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-20319" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/images_ftcbldg_6.jpg" style="width: 300px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; float: right; height: 200px;" width="600" height="400" />SANTA MONICA, CA—Consumer Watchdog today called on the Federal Trade Commission to act immediately against Google’s most recent privacy violation – sharing users’ personal information with apps developers – and said the penalties for violating a previous consent order should reach into the billions of dollars.

Privacy Group: Google Sharing Too Much Personal Info With Developers

February 25, 2013 · Mark Reback

Google's sharing of app buyers' personal information with developers violates an FTC settlement, Consumer Watchdog says IDG News Service - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the California Office of the Attorney General should investigate Google's Wallet service for sharing app buyers' personal information with app developers, a privacy group said.

Report: State Environmental Agency A ‘Problem Child’

February 23, 2013 · Mark Reback

<a href="http://www.kqed.org/news/story/2013/02/21/116780/report_state_environmental_agency_a_problem_child?category=science">Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast</a>. The consumer advocacy group <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/">Consumer Watchdog</a> issued a harsh <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/golden-wasteland-report">report</a> this week of California's <a href="http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/">Department of Toxic Substances Control</a>.

KNBC TV-4 LA: Investigation: Regulators Failing to Protect Neighborhoods From Toxic Waste

February 22, 2013 · Mark Reback

The state agency charged with protecting Californians from most polluters is allowing companies to dump toxic waste and put lives at risk, as Joel Grover and the NBC4 I-Team Investigation reveals. <a href="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Investigation-Toxic-Waste-Dump-California-Department-of-Toxic-Substances-Health-Cancer-192147871.html">Click here to watch the video of this news broadcast</a>.

Insiders Say CA Toxic Regulation is Weak

February 22, 2013 · Mark Reback

Sources in the Department of Toxic Substances Control say agency’s lax enforcement puts public health at risk 2/21/13 UPDATE: Lawmakers are now demanding a Senate investigation into the Department of Toxic Substances Control after our investigative report exposed flaws in the agency.

Report Says California Toxic Waste Management Is Weak

February 21, 2013 · Mark Reback

<a href="http://www.scpr.org/programs/take-two/2013/02/21/30611/report-says-california-toxic-waste-management-is-w/">Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast</a>.

Scroogled: Microsoft Escalates Google Battle

February 17, 2013 · Mark Reback

Escalating one of tech's biggest rivalries, Microsoft is accusing <a href="http://www.siliconvalley.com/topics?Google%20Inc.">Google</a> (<a href="http://markets.financialcontent.com/mng-ba.siliconvalley/quote?Symbol=GOOG">GOOG</a>) of compromising the privacy of Gmail users -- leveling the charge in an unusual, in-your-face ad campaign that it hopes will resonate with consumers even if some analysts call it alarmist and irresponsible.

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