Privacy

Feds Probe Privacy Violations Involving Smartphone App Data

April 4, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Federal prosecutors are taking a look at what smartphone application makers do with the data they collect from their users.<br /> <br /> Their investigation came to light Monday in a regulatory filing by Internet radio company Pandora. Oakland-based Pandora said it had received a subpoena from a federal grand jury early this year.<br /> <br />

California Introduces Do-Not-Track Bill, May Set U.S. Standard

April 4, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> April 4 (Bloomberg) -- A California bill unveiled today that would limit Web companies from tracking the state’s online consumers’ browsing habits may support national efforts for a similar law, costing the industry as much as $1.1 billion annually.<br /> <br />

Do-Not-Track Bill Introduced In California

April 4, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> A state lawmaker in California has introduced a privacy bill that would require Web companies that gather data about state residents to notify consumers about the collection and allow them to opt out.</p>

Google Privacy Settlement Unlikely To Cause Big Change

April 1, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Google this week agreed to a new privacy program as part of a <a href="http://www.dailyfinance.com/article/google-reaches-privacy-settlement-with/1697269/">Federal Trade Commission settlement</a>, a move that translates into a major mea culpa for the search giant -- and a strong warning to other information-gathering Internet companies. But consumers are unlikely to see widespread Internet-privacy changes as a result, consumer protection groups say.<br /> <br />

Google “Wi-Spy” Controversy Rages On, Raises More Questions

April 1, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

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Big, really big

March 30, 2011  ·  Jamie Court

<p> <img class=" size-full wp-image-2037" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/consuwatchdogpic.jpg" style="width: 168px; height: 250px;" width="168" height="250" />We've had a big first quarter at Consumer Watchdog.</p> <p> We <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/newsrelease/consumer-watchdog-praises-judge-blocking-google-books-deal">beat Google in court</a> last week when the judge agreed with our strong anti-trust arguments and prevented Google from gaining a monopoly over digitized books online.</p>

Will Schmidt Divest From Google to Become Commerce Secretary?

March 30, 2011  ·  Jamie Court

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Google Introduces New Social Tool and Settles Privacy Charge

March 30, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Google is trying social networking again, even as it pays a price for earlier privacy blunders.</p> <p> Google introduced its latest social tool on Wednesday, the same day it settled with the Federal Trade Commission over charges of deceptive privacy practices last year for Buzz, the social networking tool in Gmail.</p>

Google, FTC Reach Google Buzz Privacy Settlement

March 30, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Trade Commission reached a settlement with Google on Wednesday over Google Buzz, the social networking tool rolled out last year which spawned a slew of privacy complaints.</p> <p> Under the settlement announced by the US regulator, Google is required to implement a comprehensive privacy program and will be subject to independent privacy audits every two years for the next 20 years.</p>

Google Settles With Feds, Apologizes (Again) For Buzz Privacy Blunder

March 30, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<div class="epicenter" id="header"> <a href="http://www.wired.com/epicenter" id="blog_header"> </a></div> <div id="post_nav"> <div class="post_nav_link" id="post_nav_next">  </div> </div> <p> <a href="http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/02/buzz-poll/picture-3-2-2/" rel="attachment wp-att-15048"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-15048" src="http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/epicenter/2010/02/picture-3-300x71.png" style="width: 300px; height: 71px;" title="google buzz logo" /></a></p>

Gauntlet Thrown Down In Google Settlement

March 30, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <b>Memo from Washington to Web companies: Take note of the Google Buzz settlement.</b></p> <p> Sure, the <a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0311/52214.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">consent decree</a> proposed Wednesday by the Federal Trade Commission drops the hammer squarely on Google — subjecting the search giant’s entire online empire to periodic privacy checkups for two decades.</p>

Google Settles Buzz Case With US Government

March 30, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Google has settled legal matters with the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over privacy issues surrounding its Buzz social networking service.</p> <p> The company said that it had struck an agreement with the FTC which will settle the complaint and put new controls over how Google handles user privacy. Under the agreement, Google will receive independent audits every two years, and any sharing of user information will require prior consent.</p> <p> "When companies make privacy pledges, they need to honour them," said FTC chairman Jon Leibowitz.</p>