Privacy

Google After Antitrust: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

November 20, 2012  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p><em><strong>U.S. and European antitrust regulators are poised to crack down on the dominant search company. What changes to Google search might the cases trigger?</strong></em><br /> <br /> Tim Carter was blindsided when his home-improvement site <a href="http://askthebuilder.com/">AsktheBuilder.com</a> fell out of favor with Google's search algorithm about 21 months ago. His daily ad revenue from Google AdSense crashed from $1,400 to $70.<br /> <br />

Two Trustbusters Who Could Decide Google’s Future

November 20, 2012  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p><em><strong>Joaquin Almunia in Europe and Joshua Wright in the United States hold influence in the fight over whether Google abused its dominance in search.</strong></em><br /> <br /> Think of them as the good cop and the bad cop.<br /> <br />

Google Ruling Shows Need For Do Not Track And Strong Antitrust Action

November 20, 2012  ·  John M. Simpson

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2532" alt="" src="http://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/images_gavel_0.jpg" style="width: 150px; height: 152px; float: right;" width="272" height="275" />A federal <a data-mce-="" href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/resources/illstonorder111612.pdf">judge's ruling</a> late Friday in a key privacy case demonstrates the need to implement tough "Do Not Track" rules and to take decisive action on the antitrust front against Google.</p>

Judge Approves $22.5M Google-FTC Settlement, Rebuffs Consumer Group

November 19, 2012  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p><em><strong>Summary</strong></em>: <em>A US judge has rebuffed efforts by California-based Consumer Watchdog to derail Google's settlement with the FTC regarding the bypassing of Safari privacy settings.. The group wanted a harsher penalty, and is now urging a full FTC suit over Google's search practices.</em><br /> <br /> A US judge has spurned a consumer rights group's call for Google to have to pay more than $22.5m in settlement over its Safari privacy row, by approving the original figure set by the Federal Trade Commission.<br /> <br />

Federal Judge Approves FTC’s $22.5 Million Fine On Google

November 19, 2012  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p>A federal judge has approved a $22.5-million fine against Google despite calls from a consumer advocacy group for a stiffer penalty.<br /> <br /> U.S. District Judge Susan Illston issued the ruling late Friday, a few hours after a hearing arguments.<br /> <br />

Google Privacy Settlement With FTC Wins Court Approval

November 19, 2012  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p>A federal judge on Friday approved a legal settlement in which Google (GOOG) agreed to pay a record fine of $22.5 million to resolve federal allegations of privacy violations, despite objections from a consumer group that argues the penalty is too weak.<br /> <br /> Hours after holding a brief hearing in San Francisco's federal court, U.S. District Judge Susan Illston ruled that the negotiated agreement is "fair, adequate and reasonable."<br /> <br />

Google Judge Accepts $22.5 Million FTC Privacy Settlement

November 19, 2012  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p>Google Inc.’s $22.5 million agreement with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to settle claims the company improperly planted cookies on Apple Inc. (AAPL)’s Safari Internet browser was approved by a federal judge.<br /> <br /> U.S. District Judge Susan Illston in San Francisco found arguments from a consumer group that the settlement was inadequate unpersuasive and accepted the agreement.<br /> <br />

Judge Leaning Toward OK Of $22.5M Fine Of Google

November 17, 2012  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p>A proposed $22.5 million fine to penalize Google for an alleged privacy breach is on the verge of winning court approval, despite a consumer rights group's cry for tougher punishment.<br /> <br /> U.S. District Judge Susan Illston told lawyers during a Friday court hearing in San Francisco that she is likely to approve the fine, which is the cornerstone of a settlement reached three months ago between the Federal Trade Commission and Google Inc.<br /> <br />

Google Judge Says She May Approve $22.5 Million FTC Deal

November 17, 2012  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p>A federal judge said she may approve Google Inc.’s $22.5 million agreement with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission over claims the company improperly planted cookies on Apple (AAPL) Inc.’s Safari Internet browser.<br /> <br /> Advocacy group Consumer Watchdog opposes the accord, saying it lets Google off too easily and suggests that a separate government antitrust enforcement action against the world’s largest search engine company may lack teeth.<br /> <br />

Senators Tell FTC To Put Brakes On Antitrust Cases Against Tech Companies

November 16, 2012  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p>With reports swirling that the Federal Trade Commission is readying an antitrust case against Google, some Republican senators say the agency should hold its fire.<br /> <br />

Political bloggers should reveal funding

November 14, 2012  ·  Jamie Court

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2530" alt="" src="http://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/110922_fppc_logo.jpg" style="width: 134px; height: 129px; float: right;" width="134" height="129" />Wednesday, the California Fair Political Practices Commission takes up the question of whether political bloggers should have to disclose who pays them to blog in political campaigns. Sacramento's consultant establishment, both on the left and the right, has been hiding behind free speech protections to propagandize and cut the legs out from under credentialed authorities on behalf of any interest group.<br /> <br />

Bloggers Should Disclose Who Pays

November 14, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<div id="text-pages"> <div class="page" style="display: block;"> <p>This op-ed commentary was published in the <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Political-bloggers-should-reveal-funding-4035087.php">San Francisco Chronicle on Wednesday, November 14th, 2012</a>.</p>