Privacy

Google, Other Tech Firms Among Top Lobbying Spenders In US

January 23, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>Google's spending on lobbying was up 70 percent in 2012, Facebook's up nearly 200 percent</b></p> <p>Google, AT&T and Verizon Communications were among the top corporate spenders on lobbying the U.S. government in the fourth quarter of 2012, according to <a href="http://disclosures.house.gov/ld/ldsearch.aspx">information released this week</a> by the U.S. House of Representatives.</p>

Facebook Lobbying Spend Up 196%, Google Up 70% In 2012 To Try To Sway Privacy, Anti-Trust Legislation

January 23, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>When you’re crushing your competitors, it’s the government that can be your biggest threat. That’s why <a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/story/google-facebook-continue-to-flood-washington-with-cash-for-lobbying-efforts-consumer-watchdog-calls-record-spending-cynical-bid-to-buy-influence-2013-01-23" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Google grew its lobbying spend</a> 70% to $16.48 million in 2012 and Facebook’s fees soared 196% to $3.99 million as they tried to buy government influence. Not everyone’s so worried about Washington, though.

Facebook Increased Lobbying Spending 196% in 2012

January 23, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>Google, Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft all increased spending, while Apple decreased</b></p>

Letter to the Editor: Toxic Releases or Recycling: Do We Really Have to Choose?

January 20, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><span id="RDS_global"><span id="RDS_article"><b>Toxic recycling </b> </span></span></p> <p><span id="RDS_global"><span id="RDS_article">Californians shouldn't have to choose between recycling and poisoning our water, soil and air. Recently, CleanTech Environmental President Robert Brown, the CEO of a company that threatens to despoil a sensitive ecosystem in Irwindale, claimed in these pages (Jan. 16) that his used motor oil recycling plant will be so "state-of-the-art" that the project doesn't require an in-depth environmental impact report. </span></span></p>

Do You Have a Dream? – Take Our Survey

January 20, 2013  ·  Jamie Court

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2579" alt="" height="175" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/images_400martin_luther_king_jr.jpg" style="float: right; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 4px;" width="213" />I recently read Martin Luther King's "<em>I Have A Dream</em>" speech to my young children and wondered what their dreams were for justice today. We live in a nation where they have a chance to be judged by the content of their character, not the color of their skin.  As Consumer Watchdog embarks on a year of opportunity to change the world, we want to know what your dreams and thoughts for the future are.

Frustrated Parents Say App Ratings Fall Short

January 19, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong>Amid debate over standards, kids have easy access to violent and sexual content.</strong></p> <p>Shoot zombies, watch their heads fly and blood splatter. Flick your finger and roll a virtual cigarette. Snap a photo and see what you look like with bigger breasts.</p> <p>It's all possible from a smartphone or tablet, and most of those games littered with violence, vice and sex are at the screen-tapping fingertips of children -- often for free.</p>

Europe’s Antitrust Chief Talks Tough On Google

January 11, 2013  ·  John M. Simpson

<p>Google may have only received a tap on the wrist from the<a data-mce-="" href="http://ftc.gov/opa/2013/01/google.shtm"> Federal Trade Commission </a>when the agency closed the U.S. antitrust investigation without taking action against the Internet giant for skewing search results to favor its services, but it's looking increasingly likely that Google will face strong action on the other side of the Atlantic.</p>

Mobile Apps Should Limit Data Collection, State AG Says

January 10, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>California report also says Mobile apps should not collect data not related to their basic functionality</b></p> <p>Mobile application developers should minimize privacy surprises for their customers by limiting their data collection and retention and giving users access to the data collected, California Attorney General Kamala Harris has recommended.</p>

Watchdog Seeks FTC Staff Opinion On Google Antitrust Case

January 8, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong>Trying to keep pressure on Google, Consumer Watchdog wants to see what exactly the Federal Trade Commission staff said in its investigation of the search business.</strong></p> <p>Consumer Watchdog, a group that's accused Google of antitrust misconduct, is trying to find out why the FTC's investigation into the subject resulted in only mild punishment.</p>

Survey

January 6, 2013  ·  Daniel Palay

<div id="surveyMonkeyInfo"> <div> <br /> <script src="https://www.surveymonkey.com/jsEmbed.aspx?sm=FXZiykqDTaNl1vslUrc_2fiw_3d_3d"> </script></div> </div> <p> </p> <p>Your support is greatly appreciated! To read about our latest campaigns, <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org">check our recent updates.</a><br /> <br /> To stay in touch with our work daily, iPhone and iPad users can down our <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/node/10393">new app here</a>.</p> <p> </p>

Google Free to Extend Web Search Lead as U.S. Ends Probe

January 4, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><a class="web_ticker" href="http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/GOOG:US" title="Get Quote">Google Inc. (GOOG)</a> is free to extend its dominance of the $50 billion Internet-search market after U.S. regulators ended an investigation into whether the company unfairly disadvantaged competing websites by favoring its own services in search results.</p>

FTC: Google Did Not Break Antitrust Law With Search Practices

January 4, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Google emerged from nearly two years of intense federal scrutiny Thursday by convincing the Federal Trade Commission that even though rivals may suffer as the company continually refines its search engine, consumers often win through better, faster, more valuable answers to their queries.</p>