Privacy

FCC Deals Setback To AT&T, Qualcomm Spectrum Licensing Deal

August 10, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <b>The FCC decides to review AT&T's proposed acquisition of T-Mobile and Qualcomm spectrum licensing together.</b></p> <p> The Federal Communications Commission dealt a blow to network operator AT&T by tying together the company’s proposed acquisition of rival carrier T-Mobile USA with a $1.9 billion deal that would see AT&T acquire some of Qualcomm’s spectrum licenses. The agency sent the letter to AT&T and Qualcomm executives on the last day of the 180-day review.</p>

Is Google adding a default security setting?

August 9, 2011  ·  John M. Simpson

<p> <img alt="" src="screen_shot_20" style="float: right;" /><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" />One of the dangers of using public Wi-Fi networks at coffee shops and the like is that anybody else on the network can read your email, Facebook postings, search requests and easily hack into your account unless the data is encrypted.</p>

Will the Feds Stand Up to AT&T’s Repeat Rip-Off?

August 9, 2011  ·  Harvey Rosenfield

<p> <img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2199" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/images_harveydrawingname.gif" style="width: 133px; height: 200px; float: right; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px;" width="133" height="200" />Will federal officials fall for AT&T’s promises and approve its multi-billion dollar merger with T-Mobile, when AT&T made exactly the same promises seven years ago and then betrayed them – costing its cell phone customers a fortune?</p>

Web Tracking Has Become A Privacy Time Bomb

August 3, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p class="inside-copy"> LAS VEGAS — The coolest free stuff on the Internet actually comes at a notable price: your privacy.</p> <p class="inside-copy"> For more than a decade, tracking systems have been taking note of where you go and what you search for on the Web — without your permission. And today many of the personal details you voluntarily divulge on popular websites and social networks are being similarly tracked and analyzed.</p>

Should you believe what Eric Schmidt says, or what Google does?

July 25, 2011  ·  John M. Simpson

<p> <img class=" size-full wp-image-2156" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/googleceoschmidt-150x150.jpg" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;" width="150" height="150" />Actions speak louder than words. That's why I'm not putting much stock in what Google Executive Chairman <a href="http://www.google.com/intl/en/about/corporate/company/execs.html#eric">Eric Schmidt</a> says anymore.</p>

Spotlight on DC: Debt brinkmanship, consumer cop, birth control and hackers

July 23, 2011  ·  Carmen Balber

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Stanford Study Shows Opting Out Of Web Tracking Not So Easy

July 22, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> A new study by Stanford researchers has found many online advertising companies continue to follow people's Web activity even after users believe they have opted out of tracking.</p> <p> <span id="mn_Article">The preliminary research has sparked renewed calls from privacy groups and Congress for a "Do Not Track" law to allow people to opt out of tracking, like the Do Not Call list that limits telemarketers. </span></p>

Google And Facebook Spent Record Amounts On Lobbying In Q2 2011

July 21, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> It looks like both Google and Facebook <a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/google-and-facebook-lobbying-expenditures-soar-to-records--consumer-watchdog-asks-if-eric-schmidt-should-register-as-a-lobbyist-125966173.html">spent record amounts</a> on lobbying in the second quarter of 2011, as evidenced by the most recent disclosure reports filed in the U.S. Senate’s lobbying database.</p>

Mr. Schmidt Goes To Washington: Google Lobbying Hits New High

July 21, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <a href="http://gigaom2.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/800px-us_capitol_south.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-74179" height="168" src="http://gigaom2.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/800px-us_capitol_south.jpg?w=270&h=168" title="Top 5 Tips for Cleantech Startups Headed to Washington" width="270" /></a></p>

Google and Facebook Splurge on Lobbying in Q2

July 21, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <strong>Internet companies such as Google and Facebook are splurging on their presence in Washington according to Q2 lobbying expenditure reports. </strong></p>

Google and Facebook lobby expense reports likely to set new records Wednesday

July 19, 2011  ·  John M. Simpson

<p> Lobbying expenditure reports are due to be filed with the the <a href="http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/legislative/one_item_and_teasers/opr.htm">Senate Office of Public Records</a> Wednesday and you can expect record expenditures from both Facebook and Google.</p> <p> Driven by an antitrust probe, Google could even outspend Microsoft in it's arm-twisting campaign.</p>

The Cost of Lost Privacy: How Google and Datamining Drive Economic Inequality in Our Nation

July 15, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Why has economic inequality increased so radically in the United States over the last generation?</p> <p> General explanations range from globalization to the decline in trade unions to rising returns to education -- and therefore the loss of income to the less educated. These all no doubt play a role but in an age of information, what is unquestionably true is that control of that information is extremely unequal - and that inequality drives broader economic inequality in our economy.</p>