Privacy

Consumer Watchdog Asks the FTC to Block Google’s Acquisition of Frommer

August 14, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong>Says it makes no sense to approve the deal</strong></p> <p>Internet services giant Google has announced plans to acquire travel brand Frommer for an undisclosed amount in a deal that has already come under fire <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/newsrelease/consumer-watchdog-urges-regulators-block-google%E2%80%99s-purchase-frommer%E2%80%99s-travel-guides" target="_blank" title="Consumer Watchdog" rel="noopener">from Consumer Watchdog</a>.</p>

Share News of Pregnancy on Facebook

August 14, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Facebook has offered users a new way to inform their friends and relatives en masse that they're "expecting a baby."</p> <p>On Monday, the Menlo Park social-networking giant added that category to the life events that people can post to their timeline, a list that already included engagements, marriages and new pets.</p>

How Google Barged Into The Travel Business

August 14, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Google's slow-but-steady march into the travel and local listings business continues this week with its latest acquisition: Frommer's, the popular travel guidebook series.</p> <p><br /> Frommer's owner, John Wiley & Sons, announced the purchase early Monday, saying it had "entered a definitive agreement to sell all travel assets, including all of its interests in the Frommer's brand, to Google."</p>

Mo Content, Mo Problems: Google’s Frommer’s Acquisition Could Lead To Additional Antitrust Scrutiny

August 13, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p>With its recent purchase of Zagat and today’s <a href="http://techcrunch.com/2012/08/13/google-acquiring-frommers-travel-brand-more-google-improvements-likely-to-follow/">announcement</a> that it is acquiring travel guide company Frommer’s, there can be little doubt that Google is getting deeper into the content business. This move makes a lot of sense for Google, which is trying to add more content to its local reviews business and Knowledge Graph, but it could also put the company under additional scrutiny from antitrust investigators in the U.S. and elsewhere.

Google Hit With Record $22.5-Million Fine For Safari Tracking

August 10, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>The FTC fines Google a record $22.5 million for violating the privacy of people who used Apple's Safari Web browser even after pledging it would not.</b></p> <p>In levying a record $22.5-million fine against Google Inc., the Federal Trade Commission said it wanted to send a clear message to the Internet giant that it won't tolerate similar breaches in the future.</p> <p>Google on Thursday agreed to pay the fine to settle allegations that it violated a pledge to protect the privacy of its users who browse the Web with Apple Inc.'s Safari.</p>

Google Agrees To $22.5 Mil Fine For Tracking Safari Users

August 9, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p align="LEFT"><img class=" size-full wp-image-9755" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/images_google-advertising-b.jpg" style="width: 310px; height: 149px;" width="410" height="197" />Google has agreed to a record $22.5 million fine to settle charges that it circumvented the privacy settings of Safari users, the Federal Trade Commission announced on Thursday.</p>

Google Agrees To Pay Record Fine for Privacy Violations

August 9, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<div id="printArticleBody"> <p>Google has agreed to pay $22.5 million to settle allegations that it violated its privacy promises by bypassing the privacy settings of users of Apple’s Safari Internet browser in order to track them, the Federal Trade Commission said on Thursday.</p>

Google To Pay $22.5M Fine Over Privacy Practices

August 9, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p id="first_paragraph">Google will pay a historic fine to settle U.S. government charges that it violated privacy laws when it tracked via cookies users of Apple's Safari browser.</p> <p>The US$22.5 million civil penalty is the largest ever secured by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission for a violation of one of its orders, <a href="http://ftc.gov/opa/2012/08/google.shtm">the FTC said on Thursday</a>.</p> <p>However, ConsumerWatchdog.org finds the settlement inadequate for various reasons, including the amount of the fine and the fact that it allows Google to deny guilt and liability.</p>

Google Pays $22.5 Million To Settle Apple Safari Charges

August 9, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Google Inc will pay $22.5 million to settle charges it bypassed the privacy settings of customers using Apple Inc's Safari browser, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission said on Thursday.</p> <p>The deal ends an FTC probe into allegations that Google used computer code known as "cookies" to trick the Safari browser on iPhones and iPads so the Internet search company could monitor users who had blocked such tracking.</p>

Google Said to Face Fine by U.S. Over Apple Safari Breach

August 9, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<div id="middle_rail"> <div id="story_body">

FTC: $22.5 Million Penalty Sends Message To Google

August 9, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Google agreed to pay a $22.5 million penalty — the largest ever levied by the Federal Trade Commission — to settle charges that it failed to honor the privacy settings of millions of people who use Apple’s Safari Web browser, regulators said Thursday.</p>

Google To Pay Record $22.5 Million To Settle With FTC

August 9, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>Search giant denies it intended to violate consumer privacy by circumventing Safari settings</b></p> <p>Privacy advocates have been waiting for this one: Google agreed to pay a record $22.5 million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it circumvented privacy settings in Apple's Safari browser. As part of the order, Google must disable all the tracking cookies it had said it would not place on consumers' computers.</p>