Privacy

Consumer Group Slams L.A. for Use, Promotion of Google Apps

October 24, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Consumer Watchdog has long been a vocal and sometimes <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/01/animation-of-google-ex-ceo-schmidts-creepy-lines-hits-dc-streets.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">over-the-top</a> critic of Google and with <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/10/la-councilman-google-system-unable-to-meet-security-needs-of-city-e-mail.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">questions rising</a> over the implementation of Google Apps in Los Angeles' government, the Santa Monica-based group is at it again.</p>

Google Apps Faces New Security Requirements in L.A.

October 22, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <b>Security requirements of the Los Angeles Police Department have delayed the city's complete implementation of the Google Apps cloud collaboration software.</b></p> <p> Google's complete (NASDAQ:GOOG) implementation of its Google Apps cloud collaboration software for Los Angeles has been delayed due to additional security requirements from the city's police department.</p>

Google Apps Hasn’t Met LAPD’s Security Requirements, City Demands Refund

October 20, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Two years after the City of Los Angeles approved a $7.25 million deal to move its e-mail and productivity infrastructure to Google Apps, the migration has still not been completed because the Los Angeles Police Department and other agencies are unsatisfied with Google’s security related to the handling of criminal history data.</p>

Verizon, Verizon Wireless Policy Changes Raise Privacy Issues

October 20, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Facebook knows your likes and dislikes, not to mention who your friends are. Amazon knows your taste in books and anything else you shop for at its online superstore. Google knows what you research or wonder about. And other websites - including this one, if you're reading at Philly.com - can track your browsing and clicking habits as you navigate from site to site in the same ad networks.<br />  <br />

Los Angeles Wants Refund for Google Apps

October 20, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Google may need to act quickly to salvage its $7.25 million deal to migrate the city of Los Angeles to its Google Apps platform, following news that the delayed rollout is still not completed. The city approved the deal two years ago, but in July 2010 it was disclosed that delays <a href="http://betanews.com/2010/07/26/google-announces-apps-for-government-in-light-of-la-rollout-delays/">had prevented full implementation</a>.</p>

Los Angeles CTO Defends Embattled Google Apps Deal

October 20, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Los Angeles CTO <a href="http://www.govtech.com/e-government/Randi-Levin-CTO-Los-Angeles.html">Randi Levin</a> said Thursday that Google Apps is “working fine” for the majority of city employees, and that the city’s desire to cancel the cloud-based e-mail suite in the Los Angeles Police Department and other agencies that handle criminal justice data is a result of technology outpacing public policy.<br /> <br />

LA’s Google Apps Rollout Hits the Skids

October 20, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p class="story-summary"> The City of Los Angeles' transition to Google Apps for its 30,000 employees apparently hasn't been going smoothly, according to letters obtained by the group Consumer Watchdog. It seems Google and contractor CSC haven't been able to fulfill the LAPD's security requirements, and now the city is asking for some of its money back.</p> <p> <a class="story-keyword-offsite" href="http://www.google.com/">Google</a> (Nasdaq: GOOG) Apps seems to have stubbed its toe in providing services to the 30,000 employees of the city of Los Angeles.</p>

Complaint Accuses Pepsi of Deceptive Marketing

October 19, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Four consumer advocacy and privacy organizations <a href="http://case-studies.digitalads.org/ftc-complaint/">filed a complaint</a> with the Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday alleging that PepsiCo and its Frito-Lay subsidiary are engaging in deceptive digital marketing practices targeted at adolescents.</p>

Google Suffers Cloud Setback in L.A.

October 19, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Los Angeles is delaying until 2012 the migration of email to Google’s cloud computing suite for thousands of law enforcement officials because the system doesn’t currently meet security requirements — a blow for the tech titan as it battles rivals for government cloud supremacy.<br /> <br />

Google faces IRS scrutiny for avoiding taxes

October 14, 2011  ·  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" />Remember the "Double Irish" and the "Dutch Sandwich?" Those are the nicknames for the schemes that Google uses to dodge about $1 billion a year in U.S. taxes by running profits through offshore subsidiaries and stashing the cash in tax havens like Bermuda.</p>

Blue Shield admits to overcharging California customers by about half a billion since 2010

October 13, 2011  ·  Doug Heller

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2279" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/images_dougdrawingname.gif" style="width: 133px; height: 200px; float: right;" width="133" height="200" />It is a <a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/story/blue-shield-of-california-to-give-back-295-million-to-fulfill-2-percent-net-income-pledge-for-2011-2011-10-13">masterful spin by the self-described not-for-profit Blue Shield of California</a> to announce that it is returning all but two percent of its profits to its customers, as though this were some act of humble generosity.  It’s a little like a supermarket announcing that from now on it’s going to give

Social Security Kept Silent About Private Data Breach

October 13, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> WASHINGTON, DC -- The Social Security Administration has failed to inform tens of thousands of Americans that it accidentally released their names, dates of birth and Social Security numbers in an electronic database widely used by U.S. business groups.<br /> <br />