Privacy

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>

Google’s WiFi Snoop – Who Knew and Who Didn’t?

May 18, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

"The FTC needs to ask what did Google know and when did Google know it,” says John Simpson. “Google’s suggestion for a third-party audit is inadequate...That would be like like getting to pick and pay the referees in a championship basketball game. This investigation must be done by a regulatory authority capable of imposing real sanctions."

White House Official Reprimanded for Consulting with Google Colleagues

May 17, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Deputy Web Chief Andrew McLaughlin was scolded for consulting with former colleagues at Google. The White House has reprimanded one of its top Web chiefs for violating ethics rules and inappropriately consulting with his former colleagues at Google. OSTP delivered the e-mails on Monday, according to their e-mail's time stamp. Consumer Watchdog was still parsing those messages later in the afternoon, but a spokesman said his group believes "this was a serious breach of policy by Andrew McLaughlin and warrants more than a mere slap on the wrist." Consumer Watchdog has long opposed McLaughlin, even since the days of his Senate confirmation.  </p>

Google Acknowledges Collecting Snippets of People’s Online Activities Broadcast Over Wi-Fi

May 17, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Consumer Watchdog, a group that has become one of Google’s most outspoken critics, renewed its call for a regulatory crackdown Friday. “Once again, Google has demonstrated a lack of concern for privacy,” said Consumer Watchdog’s John Simpson. “Its computer engineers run amok, push the envelope and gather whatever data they can until their fingers are caught in the cookie jar.” </p>

Watchdog Blasts Google Over Data Collection Mistake

May 17, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Consumer Watchdog once again raised its concerns about Google’s data privacy practices after the firm acknowledged Friday in a <a href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/wifi-data-collection-update.html" onclick="s_objectID=">blog post </a>that it discovered the discrepancy during an audit of the WiFi data its “Street View” cars collect for use in location-based services such as Google Maps. The audit was requested by a German data protection official.

FTC Asked to Investigate Google Wi-Fi ‘Snooping’

May 17, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

A consumer group has called on the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to investigate Google after the search company revealed that it had been collecting people's Internet communications from open wireless networks. Consumer Watchdog says the FTC should find out exactly what Google logged, how long it collected the information and what it ended up doing with it. "Google has demonstrated a history of pushing the envelope and then apologizing when its overreach is discovered," the group said Monday in a <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/corporateering/articles/?storyId=34304">press release</a>. "Given its recent record of privacy abuses, there is absolutely no reason to trust anything the Internet giant claims about its data collection policies."

Consuming Interests: Customer Service at a Cost

May 16, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> <font face="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><span style="font-size: 12px"></span></font><strong>More Companies Make You Pay for Customer Service Agent's Help</strong> </p> <p> Doug Heller, executive director of Consumer Watchdog in Los Angeles, said customer service should be free, especially if consumers are paying hundreds of dollars for a product or service. "It rightly drives people nuts," Heller said. "Once you buy something, you shouldn't have to pay more to make it right." Last year, the group won a $750,000 judgment against Nextel Communications, which had been charging customers $2.50 to view detailed paper bills. The company was sending consumers summary bills each month. </p>

Google Collecting Personal WiFi Data By Mistake

May 15, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Google has said that the cars used for its “Street View” mapping service had been mistakenly collecting personal data that people sent over unsecured WiFi networks for several years. John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog, an advocacy group that is a frequent critic of Google, said the company had demonstrated a “lack of concern for privacy.” “Its computer engineers run amok, push the envelope and gather whatever data they can until their fingers are caught in the cookie jar,” Simpson said. “The takeaway from this incident is the clear need for government oversight and regulation of the data all online companies gather and store,” he said.

Google Apologizes Over Wi-Fi Data Collection

May 15, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Google has said sorry after admitting to collecting data of people’s online activity from unencrypted Wi-Fi networks. John Simpson from the Consumer Watchdog has said that  appropriate government agencies must now ensure the data is  appropriately deleted. “Once again Google has demonstrated a lack of concern for  privacy,” said Mr Simpson. “Its computer engineers run amok, push the envelope and gather whatever data they can until their fingers are caught in the cookie jar."<br />

Google Admits Wi-Fi Data Blunder

May 15, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<strong>Google has admitted that for the past three years it has wrongly collected information people have sent over unencrypted wi-fi networks.</strong>  <p> John Simpson, from the Consumer Watchdog, told the BBC: “The problem is [Google] have a bunch of engineers who push the envelope and gather as much information as they can and don’t think about the ramifications of that.” <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8684110.stm"></a> </p>

Google Blasted for ‘Alarming’ Privacy Breaches

May 15, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<strong>Search Giant Vacuumed Up Activities on Public Wi-Fi Networks</strong> <p class="textBodyBlack"> Consumer Watchdog, a group that has become one of Google's most outspoken critics, renewed its call for a regulatory crackdown Friday. "Once again, Google has demonstrated a lack of concern for privacy," said Consumer Watchdog's John Simpson. "Its computer engineers run amok, push the envelope and gather whatever data they can until their fingers are caught in the cookie jar." </p> <p class="textBodyBlack">   </p>