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Privacy

Consumer Watchdog investigations and advocacy on data privacy, surveillance, AI, and your right to control your personal information.
FTC Online Privacy Report Lays Out New Standards

FTC Online Privacy Report Lays Out New Standards

<p> <span id="articlebody">The Federal Trade Commission continued to step up pressure on businesses that collect consumer data on Monday, issuing a long-awaited final report on online privacy that lays out new standards and calls on Congress to push through legislation.</span></p> <p> <span id="articlebody">Predictably, free-market observers said the regulators were overstepping their bounds - and privacy advocates said the commission didn't go far enough. </span></p>
US Regulators Demand Consumer Privacy Protection

US Regulators Demand Consumer Privacy Protection

<p> The US’ Federal Trade Commission is putting pressure on both Congress and tech companies to take actions to <a href="http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/interview/cory-doctorow-privacy-can-make-money-68921" title="cory-doctorow-privacy-can-make-money-68921">protect user privacy</a> and give them more information on how their personal data is collected and used.</p>
FTC Calls for Laws to Protect Consumer Privacy on Internet

FTC Calls for Laws to Protect Consumer Privacy on Internet

<p> In a broad report issued Monday, the FTC echoed President Obama's call, issued a month ago, for a new law that would serve as a Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights, establishing a basic set of online privacy principles.</p> <p> The agency also called specifically for a new law that would let consumers access, and dispute, personal and financial data collected and sold without their permission by giant data brokers, such as Acxiom.</p>
California’s Stem Cell Agency Ponders Its Future

California’s Stem Cell Agency Ponders Its Future

<p> LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The creation of California's stem cell agency in 2004 was greeted by scientists and patients as a turning point in a field mired in debates about the destruction of embryos and<br /> hampered by federal research restrictions.<br /> <br />
Reding: Google Privacy Policy Is Illegal

Reding: Google Privacy Policy Is Illegal

<p> <strong>Google should not have pushed through its privacy policy changes in the face of conflicts with European data protection laws, according to EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding</strong><br /> <br /> The European Union’s Justice Commissioner is certain Google’s new product policy privacy changes <a href="http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/google-privacy-policy-to-be-investigated-by-eu-regulators-58572">violate European laws</a> and was irked the search giant executed the changes against the protestations of data protection authorities.<br /> <br />
Google Rolls Out New Privacy Policy Amid Howls

Google Rolls Out New Privacy Policy Amid Howls

<p> WASHINGTON, DC -- Google rolled out its new privacy policy Thursday allowing the firm to track users across various services to developed targeted advertising, despite sharp criticism from US and European consumer advocacy groups.<br /> <br /> Google contends the move simplifies and unifies its policies across its various services such as Gmail, YouTube, Android mobile systems, social networks and Internet search.<br /> <br />
Google Privacy Policy Strikes Out With EU, Others

Google Privacy Policy Strikes Out With EU, Others

<p> The firestorm over Google's new privacy policy, which is effective starting Thursday, likely won't end soon.</p> <p> The Web's leading search company drew fire early Thursday from Consumer Watchdog, which called the plan to offer a unified privacy covering all of <span class="company">Google</span> (<a class="stockRoll" rel="StockSymbol.axd?symbol=GOOG">GOOG</a>) Web products nothing more than "a spy policy."</p>
Google Enforces New Privacy Policy, Despite International Outcry About Its Implications

Google Enforces New Privacy Policy, Despite International Outcry About Its Implications

<p> <b>Defying strong opposition from many consumer groups around the globe, Google is imposing its new privacy policy on two billion users today - Google account holders and Android phone users are affected</b><br /> <br /> LONDON, United Kingdom -- Internet giant Google has ignored calls to delay the roll-out of its controversial new privacy policy and is enforcing it today.<br /> <br /> <b>Profiting from personal user data</b><br />
Google’s Privacy Rules Grow, But Do Protections?

Google’s Privacy Rules Grow, But Do Protections?

<p> Google’s privacy policy grew from 650 words a dozen years ago to more than 2,000 in the <a href="http://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/privacy/preview/">new version</a> which goes into effect on Thursday. But experts say the all the extra verbiage is not about protecting user data so much as setting clearer guidelines for exploiting it.</p>