Privacy

White House Looks to Nail Down Online Privacy Regulations

February 23, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> President Obama's administration has released a set of guidelines addressing online consumer privacy. Representatives from several business and consumer groups will meet to mull the outline and make their recommendations, after which the White House aims to work with Congress in developing legislation based on the plan.</p>

Privacy Advocates Want Strong Role in Crafting Industry Codes

February 23, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Privacy advocates indicated Thursday that they expect to have a key role in helping to implement the Obama administration's "privacy bill of rights" released on Thursday.</p>

Consumer Group Files FTC Complaint Against Google

February 22, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> From Google's privacy policy change to Google overriding browser default settings, the FTC is getting an earful from privacy groups and lawmakers.</p>

White House Pushes for New Privacy Codes of Conduct

February 22, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> The U.S. White House will push for online businesses to adopt new privacy codes of conduct, including consumer rights to control what information websites collect about them and a right to see what data is being collected, officials there said.</p>

Lawmakers Target Google’s Tracking

February 18, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

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Google Bypassed Apple Privacy Settings: Researcher

February 18, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- Google was under fire Friday after it was revealed the Internet giant's ad-targeting "cookies" bypassed track-blocking software on Apple's web browser for iPhones and computers.<br /> <br /> Snippets of code called "cookies" from Google three online ad specialty firms slipped past tracker-blocking safeguards on Apple's Safari browser, Stanford University graduate student Jonathan Mayer said Friday in a blog post.<br /> <br />

Privacy Brouhaha Reveals Google’s Split Personality

February 18, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> When it comes to privacy, is the Googleplex speaking with one voice?<br /> <br /> A new Google privacy controversy has revealed conflicting messages and actions between two different factions within the company: those working to protect consumer privacy on the one hand, and those seeking to improve advertising and social networking on the other.<br /> <br />

How Google Gets Inside Browsers

February 18, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <strong>Search giant and others bypass privacy settings to keep track of our online habits</strong><br /> <br /> Google and several other advertising companies are bypassing the privacy settings in Apple's Safari browser, according to a report from a Stanford University researcher that set off a heated debate on Friday.<br /> <br />

Google faces questions from Congress; session should be public

February 17, 2012  ·  John M. Simpson

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Google Hit With FTC Complaint, Says Circumventing Safari Privacy Features Accidental

February 17, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> The Consumer Watchdog advocacy group today <a href="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/resources_ltrleibowitz021712.pdf">asked the Federal Trade Commission</a> to investigate whether Google violated a previous privacy agreement with the FTC by tracking cookies in a way that circumvents default privacy settings in Apple's Safari browser.</p>

Google’s Tracking of Safari Users Could Lead to FTC Investigation

February 17, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <b>Google's alleged circumvention of do-not-track controls on Apple's Safari browser could lead to big fines from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission if the agency.</b></p>

Google’s Cookie Trick in Safari Stirs Debate

February 17, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Researchers have discovered that Google deliberately bypassed the privacy settings in Safari, the Web browser on the iPhone and other Apple devices, so it could customize Web ads. The crux of the story, <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204880404577225380456599176.html">as reported</a> by The Wall Street Journal in an article that is stirring much discussion online: By exploiting a loophole in the Safari browser, Google was able to install “cookies” that could let it track browsing activity.</p>