Privacy

State Ethics Rules Lag in a New World of Finance

May 22, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Doug Heller, executive director of Consumer Watchdog, a Santa Monica nonprofit group, says it is unfortunate that the law does not require Chris Kelly to disclose more. "When you keep that detail shrouded, voters don't know what is happening," he said. "If Kelly is unwilling to reveal that information, you have to wonder what is really going on." Heller adds: "There should be a millionaire's amendment to the Political Reform Act to account for this new world." </p>

FTC OKs Google-AdMob Deal Despite Concerns

May 22, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

In a surprise decision, the Federal Trade Commission said on Friday it won’t challenge Google Inc.’s pending $750 million acquisition of mobile advertising company AdMob, clearing the way for the widely challenged deal to move forward. John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog said the deal will undermine competition, and could result in higher prices for advertisers and consumers.

FTC Clears Google Purchase of Mobile Ad Service

May 21, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<div id="hn-headline"> <span class="hn-date"></span>"How this possibly can be construed as promoting competition is incomprehensible," said John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog, a strident Google critic. "What it demonstrates is Google's clout in Washington." </div>

FTC Approves Google Deal for AdMob

May 21, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Google and Apple are increasingly bitter competitors, but with federal regulators on Friday approving Google's $750 million purchase of the mobile advertising company AdMob, a thank-you note from Mountain View to Cupertino might be in order. "I'm really incredulous," said John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog. "What they are saying is the No. 1 and the No. 2 can combine, and it's not a problem because there is a No. 3 over there that is now owned by Apple. I find that incomprehensible." </p>

White House and Google: Cozy, As Charged

May 21, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<strong> Ex-Googler broke Obama's ethics rules by talking to Googlers -- but how couldn't he?<br /> </strong> <br /> Soon after McLaughlin's Buzz profile leaked, a group called Consumer Watchdog filed a Freedom of Information Act request for McLaughlin's emails. They were produced on May 10, and are now <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/corporateering/articles/?storyId=34318">available from the group's site</a>.<br />

Latest Facebook privacy intrusion touches Google

May 21, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> In the latest revelation in a seemingly never ending stream of privacy breaches by online companies, we now know that Facebook and MySpace have been sending consumers' personal information to advertisers despite promises that they...</p>

$55,619 for Capitol Commute: GOP Primary Focuses on Nielsen’s Per Diem

May 20, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

“If, in fact, the assemblyman is living in the home he’s owned for a long time and driving to the Capitol from that home, there is no reason he should collect a penny’s worth of per diem,” said Doug Heller, executive director of Consumer Watchdog, a political and corporate accountability group. “Per diem is to cover legitimate needs of officials who have to be away from home to do their work.”

Google Will ‘Fight’ for AdMob Deal, Schmidt Says

May 19, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

In November last year, Google <strong><a class="jive-link-blog-small" href="http://www.itbusinessedge.com/cm/community/news/vam/blog/google-buys-admob-for-mobile-ad-push/?cs=37350">agreed to buy mobile marketing specialist AdMob</a></strong> for $750 million, but the deal has not yet closed. Considering how many <strong><a class="jive-link-blog-small" href="http://www.itbusinessedge.com/cm/blogs/bentley/google-a-bigger-monopolistic-threat-than-microsoft/?cs=38137">different markets</a></strong> Google has its toes in, no one was surprised <strong><a class="jive-link-blog-small" href="http://www.itbusinessedge.com/cm/blogs/bentley/consumer-groups-want-ftc-to-block-google-admob-deal/?cs=38408">in December when consumer advocacy groups</a></strong> asked the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to look at the proposed deal a little closer and consider blocking it.  Consumer Watchdog and Center for Digital Democracy were concerned more about the impact the deal would have on consumers' ability to protect their privacy than the possible antitrust implications of the acquisition.

White House Reprimands Deputy CTO for Emails with Former Colleagues at Google

May 19, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

The nation’s deputy chief technology officer, Andrew McLaughlin, was reprimanded by the White House for improperly corresponding with former Google colleagues, according to reports. Consumer Watchdog’s John Simpson said in a release: “McLaughlin received a mild slap on the wrist.” Simpson has called for McLaughlin’s resignation saying a technology expert, not a policy expert, should be in the position.

Google Chief Eric Schmidt Downplays Wi-Fi Privacy Row

May 18, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> In the US, advocacy group the Consumer Watchdog has written to the Federal Trade Commission urging it to investigate Google. “Google has demonstrated a history of pushing the envelope and then apologizing when its overreach is discovered,” said John M Simpson, of the group. “Given its recent record of privacy abuses, there is absolutely no reason to trust anything the Internet giant claims about its data collection policies.” </p>

FTC Likely to Examine Google’s Wireless Gaffe

May 18, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is likely to open a preliminary inquiry into Google Inc.'s disclosure that it accidentally harvested data from unsecured wireless networks for several years, several people familiar with the matter said. Consumer advocacy group Consumer Watchdog said Monday it was sending the FTC a letter urging the agency to investigate the mishap. John Simpson, the group's consumer advocate, said he was concerned that Google's promise to get third-parties to review the software in question was insufficient.

Google Cars Pulled After Privacy “Mistake”

May 18, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Google is apologizing for scooping up bits of people's online activities when they use Wi-Fi networks. The Google-owned cars that provide pictures for the "Street Views" on Google Maps and Google Earth accidentally collected personal information from unprotected Wi-Fi networks.  The company had been doing this now for the past four years. One of Google's most outspoken critics is Consumer Watchdog; and, after this latest news, it is renewing its call for a regulatory crackdown on the company. </p>