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Privacy

Consumer Watchdog investigations and advocacy on data privacy, surveillance, AI, and your right to control your personal information.
Feds Propose Tough New Rules to Limit Online ‘Tracking’

Feds Propose Tough New Rules to Limit Online ‘Tracking’

<p> WASHINGTON -- Wading into the increasingly contentious debate over online privacy, the Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday said Internet users ought to be able to easily block others from monitoring their online activity -- a move that could curtail the ability of advertisers such as Google to sell lucrative targeted ads to users.<br /> <br />
Stem Cells: The Impatient Advocate

Stem Cells: The Impatient Advocate

<p> <strong>Bob Klein founded the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the biggest state-run research project in US history. What legacy will he leave behind?</strong><br />   <br />
FTC to Release ‘Do Not Track’ Report on Web Privacy

FTC to Release ‘Do Not Track’ Report on Web Privacy

<p> WASHINGTON--The Federal Trade Commission is ready to release a key report on online privacy and the concept of a "do not track" approach to Web marketing, but it will probably have to get Congress involved to see any meaningful change, a FTC commissioner said today.</p>
Reback Rehearses for the Case Against Google

Reback Rehearses for the Case Against Google

<p> WASHINGTON - Fresh off the news that Europe is formally investigating Google, a Silicon Valley antitrust expert today laid out the hypothetical case against Google that might play out should U.S. regulators decide to get involved.<br /> <br />
FTC Official Says Agency Is Monitoring Google’s Practices

FTC Official Says Agency Is Monitoring Google’s Practices

<p> SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- U.S. regulators will continue to monitor Google Inc.'s business practices and may yet follow the European Union's lead by launching an antitrust investigation, a Federal Trade Commission official said Wednesday</p> <p> "You may well see something soon from the U.S. agencies, but I can't promise anything," said Melanie Sabo, Assistant Director for Anticompetitive Practices at the FTC's Bureau of Competition.</p>
Google Faces EU Antitrust Investigation Over Search

Google Faces EU Antitrust Investigation Over Search

<p> The European Union is investigating claims from smaller search engines that Google has violated fair competition rules by boosting its results. Google denies the claims.<br /> <br /> The European Union’s inquiry into Google’s search practices has evolved into a full-blown investigation as the agency’s antitrust watchdog pledged to take a hard look at the search engine.<br /> <br />
Microsoft’s Old Nemesis, Gary Reback, to Address Antitrust Probe of Google

Microsoft’s Old Nemesis, Gary Reback, to Address Antitrust Probe of Google

<p> Will U.S. antitrust regulators follow Europe's lead and do what the European Commission did today -- launch an in-depth probe to determine if Google is using illegal monopolistic business practices?<br /> <br /> That question is reverberating around the global community of antitrust experts who were around the last time the U.S. and Europe engaged a giant tech monopoly at the peak of its powers in a landmark antitrust case.<br /> <br />
Privacy Groups Fault Online Health Sites for Sharing Personal Data

Privacy Groups Fault Online Health Sites for Sharing Personal Data

<p><a href="http://www.qualityhealth.com/" title="QualityHealth Web site.">QualityHealth</a> is a popular health Web site with more than 20 million registered users that offers online medical information and e-mail newsletters on a variety of topics, including <a class="meta-classifier" href="http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/diabetes/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier" title="In-depth reference and news articles about Diabetes.">diabetes</a>, <a class="meta-classifier" href="http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/allergies/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier" title="In
For Air Travelers, Small Affronts Start to Add Up

For Air Travelers, Small Affronts Start to Add Up

<div id="articleBody"> <p> As if air travel could get any worse.</p> <p> The airlines have already taken away the free meals and the pillows. They have been charging for checked bags and extra legroom and raising fares whenever they can get away with it. They have cut back capacity so steeply that planes are nearly always filled to the brim.</p>