Privacy

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>

Google Caught Tracking Apple Users

February 17, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Google is on the defensive after <i>The Wall Street Journal</i> <b><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204880404577225380456599176.html"><b>revealed</b></a> </b>the company has been tracking Apple Safari users in violation of the Web browser's privacy settings.</p> <p> Google says the tracking was inadvertent and the problem has been fixed.</p> <p> But Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-Calif.), who was already scrutinizing Google over planned changes to its privacy policy, said she plans to bring company officials back to Washington for more questioning.</p>

Apple May Begin Following Its Own Privacy Rules

February 16, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> An Apple spokesperson has said the company intends to stop allowing third-parties to gather and store entire address books without their knowledge or permission, but that's hardly something to celebrate, said Consumer Watchdog's John Simpson. "All Apple is saying is that it will start to do what it has been implying all along that it has been doing."</p>

Consumer Watchdog Wants Larry Page for Privacy Hearing

February 15, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

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Facebook Defends Graph Search’s Privacy Controls For Teens

February 15, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Facebook is working hard to assure users that Graph Search, its new search engine designed to uncover all sorts of information buried within the site, does not compromise the privacy rights of minors.</p> <p>"As with all of our products, we designed Graph Search to take into account the unique needs of teens on Facebook," the site said Thursday in a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/facebook-safety/how-graph-search-works-for-young-people/523197687701018">blog post</a> aiming to clarify how Graph Search displays search results of people between the age of 13-17.</p>

EU Approves Google-Motorola Deal

February 13, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> European regulators have given Google the green light to take over Motorola Mobility.</p> <p> The <a href="http://www.macworld.com/article/161744/2011/08/google_buys_motorola_mobility_for_12_5_billion.html">$12.5 billion deal</a> faced strong opposition from open source and consumer rights advocates, but the European Commission announced on Monday that the acquisition could go ahead, without conditions.</p>

EPIC Pushes FTC To Get In The Ring With Google

February 9, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> EPIC has cracked the whip on the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, demanding that it stand up and fight Google over the search giant's latest privacy policy changes. EPIC's lawsuit alleges that Google's changes violate the terms of an agreement it has with the FTC, and that the FTC must fight to enforce that agreement. However, not all privacy advocates agree with EPIC's assessment of the situation.</p>

EPIC Files Suit to Block Google’s New Data Policy

February 9, 2012  ·  John M. Simpson

<p> <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" />Our friends at the <a href="http://epic.org/2012/02/epic-sues-federal-trade-commis-1.html">Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC)</a> went to court Wednesday to block Google from combining data gathered from its various services without users' consent.<br /> <br />

EDITORIAL: It’s Time for Timeline — Facebook Changes Its “Profile” Page — For Everyone

February 6, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Successful businesses sometimes lose sight of their original mission and alienate their customers by changing priorities. The mammoth social networking service Facebook may be about to make that mistake.</p>

Measure to Ease Video-Rental Privacy Curbs Catches Flack in Senate

February 2, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Some members of the U.S. Senate may have thrown a monkey wrench into Netflix's plans to share the titles of videos customers rent after getting their OK just once. The company has been pushing for passage of a modification to an antique privacy protection bill that requires explicit customer consent. The House easily approved the measure, but some senators are saying "not so fast."</p>

Facebook Critics Hope IPO Forces Some Hard Questions

February 1, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Facebook critics are hoping the company's initial public offering, announced on Wednesday, could provide them with allies in the form of the social network’s future shareholders.</p> <p> “There are certainly some questions that we hope investors will ask,” said Meg Roggensack, a senior adviser with Human Rights First, a nonprofit calling on Facebook to address how it will deal with user privacy under repressive regimes, as well as other human rights issues.</p>