Privacy

Campaign Finances Getting Personal

October 28, 2012 · Mark Reback

Special-interest money is getting downright personal in this year's state election, with four mega-millionaires tossing a combined $125 million into the pot - mostly on initiatives they put on the ballot themselves.

Props. 32 & 33: Attack of the Millionaire Zombies? (VIDEO)

October 26, 2012 · Mark Reback

Rising from the grave, stalking the public, refusing to die –that’s the “Night of the Living Dead” scenario used in tongue-in-cheek new web ad to paint the picture of “millionaire zombies” behind <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Prop-32-not-unions-only-worry-3972680.php" target="_top" rel="noopener">Props. 32 </a>and 33 on the November ballot.

Apple’s Newest iPad Creates Customer Backlash

October 25, 2012 · Mark Reback

The fanfare of <a href="http://www.siliconvalley.com/topics?Apple%2C%20Inc.">Apple's</a> (<a href="http://markets.financialcontent.com/mng-ba.siliconvalley/quote?Symbol=AAPL">AAPL</a>) announcement of two new iPads Tuesday quickly gave way to backlash from consumers who say the short life span of Apple products is becoming wearisome -- and expensive.

Microsoft Expands Gathering and Use of Data From Web Products

October 19, 2012 · Mark Reback

Microsoft instituted a policy on Friday that gives the company broad leeway over how it gathers and uses personal information from consumers of its free, Web-based products like e-mail, search and instant messaging. Almost no one noticed, however, even though Microsoft's policy changes are much the same as those that Google made to its privacy rules this year.

Google Razzle Dazzles With Data Center Display

October 17, 2012 · Mark Reback

The virtual tour "would help create the image that Google is just as open as they want us to be, regardless of the fact that they really aren't," said Rob Enderle, principal analyst with the Enderle Group. "One of their historic problems is that they are very private but don't appear to believe that others need to be."

Google Privacy Policy Changes Pressed For By EU Board

October 16, 2012 · Mark Reback

A European Union group on Tuesday sought changes to Google's recently updated privacy policy, including urging the company to release more information about its use of the personal data it collects on users. On Tuesday, the Article 29 Data Protection Working Party, which identifies itself as an advisory group made up of government privacy watchdogs throughout Europe, sent a letter to Google detailing concerns about the Mountain View, Calif.-based company's new, simplified privacy policy.

California Ballot Initiatives, Born in Populism, Now Come From Billionaires

October 16, 2012 · Mark Reback

SAN FRANCISCO — Next month, California voters will be asked to consider <a href="http://nyti.ms/Oa4jAe" title="Times article">11 ballot propositions</a> whose passage would carry the full force of law, an exercise in direct democracy that traces back to the Progressive Era of the early 20th century.

FTC Readies Antitrust Suit Against Google; Consumer Watchdog Called For Breakup Two Years Ago

October 15, 2012 · John M. Simpson

<img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2203" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/images_johndrawingname.gif" style="width: 133px; height: 200px; float: right;" width="133" height="200" />News broke over the weekend that <a data-mce-="" href="http://FTC.gov">Federal Trade Commission</a> staff is calling for the Commission to bring an antitrust case against Google for abusing its dominance in search, an action Consumer Watchdog first called for more than two years ago.

Ad Industry Proposal Deals Setback To ‘Do Not Track’ Plan

October 12, 2012 · Daniel Palay

Long-running industry negotiations over meaningful online privacy rules may be on the verge of collapse. After months of occasionally constructive discussions to define what it should mean when consumers flip on a "do not track" switch in Web browsers, advertising lobbyists threw the talks into disarray last week by advancing an outlandish proposal.

Drive Toward Autonomous Cars Shouldn’t Be So Automatic, Critics Warn

October 8, 2012 · Mark Reback

LOS ANGELES – The rush toward driverless cars by Golden State lawmakers needs to be tempered by the growing risks the technology poses to auto makers, a leading manufacturer group says. Hours after Gov. Jerry Brown signs a bill authorizing state regulations for autonomous vehicles by 2015, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, whose members account for 77% of all car and light-truck sales in the U.S., warns of the need to go slow.

You Have No Privacy. Get Over It

October 4, 2012 · Mark Reback

"Your entire life is online - and it might be used against you." That is the message of a popular viral video produced by the Belgian Federation of the Financial Sector (Febelfin), which has so far been seen by more than one-and-a-half million people. In it, members of the public are invited to a very special mind-reading conducted by a charismatic grey-haired mystic called "Dave". As the ham actor gets into his stride, more and more compelling information about the lives of his clients is spilled onto the table:

FTC Estimates Google’s Privacy Hack Earned Up To $4 Million

October 2, 2012 · John M. Simpson

<img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2203" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/images_johndrawingname.gif" style="width: 133px; height: 200px; float: right;" width="133" height="200" />One of the things you hear when companies try to minimize the impact of privacy violations is an attempt to claim there was no financial harm to consumers. However, in an interesting development the Federal Trade Commission is now publicly estimating that Google's hack around Apple's Safari browser privacy settings earned the Internet giant up to $4 million.

In One Step, You Can Ask Data Brokers to Delete Your Data Right Now

Surveillance Price Gouging

How to Opt Out from the Biggest Data Brokers