Privacy

California Lawmaker Touts Do-Not-Track Bill

April 4, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <b>A California state senator introduced an online do-not-track bill.</b></p> <p> A state senator in California has introduced a bill that would allow Web surfers to opt out of online tracking efforts by websites and advertising networks.</p>

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

April 1, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

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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 />

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, 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>

Privacy Groups Cheer FTC’s Action Over Google Buzz

March 30, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Privacy advocates cheered on Wednesday in response to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's crackdown on Google over privacy violations it called deceptive and potentially illegal resulting from the bungled launch of the Buzz social networking and microblogging service.</p> <p> The only thing that tempered the joy of privacy watchdogs over the slap from the FTC was a desire for a stiffer punishment for Google.</p>

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>

NAIC Panel Seeks More Info Before Backing Agent MLR Exemption

March 28, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> State insurance regulators delayed for at least four weeks action on a resolution that would support the demand by insurance agents for an exemption from the medical loss ratio (MLR) provision of the health care reform law.<br /> <br /> The National Association of Insurance Commissioners' Professional Health Insurance Advisors Task Force took the action late Sunday. The meeting was held as a prelude to the NAIC Spring Meeting, being held in Austin, Texas this week.<br /> <br />