Privacy

Do Not Track Could Revolutionize Online Ad Industry

December 13, 2010  ·  Mark Reback

<p> If you're like most Web users, you probably don't realize how intensively your visits to many of the most popular pages on the Internet are scrutinized.<br /> <br /> In fact, the art of anonymous, Internetwide monitoring of who visits what webpage has been advancing dramatically, driven by advertisers' desire to tailor their messages to specific groups of customers.<br /> <br />

Connecticut AG Demands Wi-Spy Data

December 10, 2010  ·  John M. Simpson

<p> <img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-1893" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/images_google-car.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 152px; float: right; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px;" width="460" height="350" />Connecticut <a href="http://www.ct.gov/ag/site/default.asp">Attorney General Richard Blumenthal</a>, who is leading a multi-state probe into Google's Wi-Spying activity is demanding the Internet giant turn over the data that its Street View cars improperly gathered from wireless networks in the state.</p>

Connecticut Attorney General Demands Google’s Street View Data

December 10, 2010  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Connecticut's attorney general has demanded that Google turn over data from unsecured wireless networks collected by its Street View cars, saying the information is necessary to determine whether the company broke state laws.</p>

Microsoft To Add Tracking Protection To IE9

December 8, 2010  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <strong>Advertisers complain the Internet Explorer browser tool will hinder their ability to support free news, entertainment and other online content.</strong><br /> <br /> Less than a week after federal regulators proposed giving web users a "do-not-track" option against online advertisers, Microsoft announced that it will add its own tracking protection mechanism in the next version of Internet Explorer 9.<br /> <br />

Microsoft Explores Privacy With New Feature

December 8, 2010  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Microsoft is adding a new feature to Internet Explorer that will allow users to opt out of being tracked by certain websites.<br />        <br /> The move comes amid growing demands for more privacy online, and U.S. government moves to introduce "do not track" legislation unless the internet industry does a better job of policing itself.             <br /> <br />

Will Congress let consumers say no to online tracking?

December 3, 2010  ·  Carmen Balber

<p> <img class=" size-full wp-image-1883" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/images_ftc_hq5_400x350.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 263px; " width="400" height="350" />A House subcommittee held its last hearing of the 111th Congress yesterday to talk about whether legislation creating a “Do Not Track Me” mechanism is needed to protect consumers’ privacy on the internet.</p>

An Inside Look at Google’s Loudest Critic

December 3, 2010  ·  Mark Reback

<div> <div style="overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;"> <br /> <div class="postBody"> <div class="cnet-image-div image-LARGE2 float-none" style="width: 500px;"> <img alt="Consumer Watchdog&#39;s John Simpson, Carmen Balber, and Jamie Court (left to right) make last-minute arrangements for their Wednesday privacy conference, dominated by criticism of Google." class="cnet-image" height="350" src="http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim/2010/12/02/IMG_3347_610x406.JPG" width="500" />

Google Takes Issue with Vocal Critics Gary Reback, Scott Cleland

December 3, 2010  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Google takes issue with news reports this week, including <a href="http://content.usatoday.com/communities/technologylive/post/2010/12/antitrust-litigator-gary-reback-calls-for-obama-to-order-us-probe-of-google/1"> our coverage</a>, in which high-profile antitrust litigator Gary Reback and frequent Google critic Scott Cleland raised questions about the search giant’s business practices.</p>

Facebook, Google Behavioral Ads Will Survive FTC’s Proposed “Do Not Call” Registry for the Web

December 2, 2010  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Online advertisers track your behavior. Google, Facebook, and other services use "targeted ads," or "behaviorial ads," to refine advertisements based on users' Web-surfing habits, and make them more effective and, most importantly, more lucrative. But a new proposal by the Federal Trade Commission aims to curb that.<br /> <br />

F.T.C. Backs Plan to Honor Privacy of Online Users

December 2, 2010  ·  Mark Reback

<p> WASHINGTON — Signaling a sea change in the debate over Internet privacy, the government’s top consumer protection agency on Wednesday advocated a plan that would let consumers choose whether they want their Internet browsing and buying habits monitored.        <br /> <br />

FTC Endorses Do-Not-Track Option for Internet Users

December 2, 2010  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <b>On Thursday, a House subcommittee will hold a hearing exploring whether Congress should require such an option.</b></p> <p>  </p>

FTC Endorses “Do Not Track Me,” Calls For A New Privacy Framework

December 1, 2010  ·  Jamie Court

<img class="right size-full wp-image-1878" height="225" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/images_vladeckdc.jpg" width="300" /><p> If you wonder if you are being followed online and if anything can be done about it, take a look at the just-out Federal Trade Commission report on <a href="http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2010/12/privacyreport.shtm">online privacy</a>.</p> <p> A frightening amount of information is available about us online and the Federal Trade Commission has endorsed the notion of a "privacy by design" build-in for web browsers. The report suggests a new framework for online privacy is vital.</p>