Privacy

Google’s Tarnished Chrome

March 11, 2011 · Mark Reback

The search and advertising company once seemed to do no wrong. Now members of Congress aren’t so sure.

Our Top Priorities For The Revolution — Let Us Know What You Think

March 9, 2011 · Consumer Watchdog

Revolutions in America start in the streets and end with changes in corporate boardrooms, in Capitol hearing rooms and at the ballot box. Big changes seem to happen quickly, but in fact they are the results of long, hard-fought campaigns that are strategically laid out. We have a plan and we would like your thoughts. Please read the following five page presentation and join Consumer Watchdog’s staff for a conference call to discuss the plan on Friday at 11 AM Pacific Time/ 2 PM Eastern.

CEO: Progressive Will Extend Pay-as-You-Drive Nationally

March 7, 2011 · Mark Reback

MAYFIELD VILLAGE, OHIO -- Progressive Corp. will expand its pay-as-you drive program nationally and launch a new advertising campaign to promote the program in the next 60 to 90 days, Chief Executive Officer Glenn M. Renwick said.

Concern Over Newsom’s Shared Office At Founders Den

March 6, 2011 · Mark Reback

Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom's plan to lease office space from a San Francisco company whose managing partner contributed $12,000 to his statewide campaign raises ethical concerns, government experts say. The lieutenant governor announced last week that he is not going to open an office in the state building in San Francisco but instead will work from shared office space at a private club in the South of Market district.

Do Not Track Our Online Data

March 4, 2011 · Mark Reback

Imagine this. You are at the kitchen table playing Scrabble with your family. Your whiz kid daughter takes all seven of her tiles and spells “casuist.” The other players are skeptical. They want an official review. You go to look it up at Dictionary.com. This is what you learn: “casuist” is a noun meaning someone who uses clever but unsound reasoning, especially in relation to moral questions—and your daughter is really smart.

Will Google Maps Camera-Equipped Tricycles Take Pictures Of Our Kids Playground?

March 2, 2011 · Jamie Court

<img class=" size-full wp-image-1988" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/article-1361892-0d6d22a6000005dc-654_468x374.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 160px;" width="468" height="374" />Google's grand experiment in photographing the world's places for Google Maps has taken its "street view" cameras off-road with new hi-tech tricycles equipped with 360 degree view cameras to photograph the back roads, parks, college paths and inner sanctums of our world. The engineer's latest design raises the question: What will Google be capturing on its backroad tour that people don't want seen?

‘Doodle 4 Google’ Gaffe Suggests Company Did Not Live Up To Privacy Commitments Made To End Wi-Spy Probe Consumer Watchdog Tells FTC

March 1, 2011 · John M. Simpson

<img class=" size-full wp-image-19844" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/googleembedded1_2.jpg" style="width: 120px; height: 90px;" width="120" height="90" />WASHINGTON, DC — Google’s latest privacy breach, gathering children’s social security information on a contest entry form, suggests that the Internet giant did not live up to commitments that prompted the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection to end its inquiry into the Wi-Spy incident, Consumer Watchdog said today.

Google Street View Goes Off Road With Tricycle To Capture More Images

March 1, 2011 · Mark Reback

<a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/03/google-street-view-goes-off-road-with-tricycle-to-capture-more-images.html">Click here to view video</a>. Google Street View has peddled its images around the globe, in every major metropolitan area of the U.S. and in 27 countries as a popular addition to its online mapping service. Now it's -- literally -- pedaling to capture more images.

Congressmen Quickly Agree To Our Call For Google Hearings

February 25, 2011 · John M. Simpson

Lawmakers Urged To Probe Google Social Security Controversy

February 24, 2011 · Mark Reback

<img alt="Googledoodle_logo.png" class="mt-image-right" height="89" src="http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/Googledoodle_logo.png" style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 20px 20px;" width="195" />A frequent Google critic Thursday called on the House co-chairmen of the Congressional Privacy Caucus to push for hearings into Google's request for the last four digits of the Social Security numbers from children seeking to participate in an art contest the Internet firm sponsored.

House To Hear Why Google Collected Kids Social Sec. Numbers

February 24, 2011 · Mark Reback

Consumer Watchdog has sent a letter to the co-chairmen of the House Privacy Caucus, asking for hearings to inquire why Google solicited partial Social Security numbers for its Doodle 4 Google contest. The two co-chairman of the caucus said later on Thursday that they have agreed to a hearing.

Obama Slammed For Seeing Google’s Schmidt in Private

February 18, 2011 · Mark Reback

On Thursday night, President Barack Obama managed to secure what many of his colleagues were not: face time with Google CEO, Eric Schmidt. Consumer Watchdog, one of the more harshest critics of Google's dominance on the Internet, said it was "inappropriate" for the president to meet Schmidt in private while the search engine giant is being scrutinized by various U.S. government departments.

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