Privacy

Google Admits Vacuuming Up Data from Wi-Fi Networks, Apologizes

May 14, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> For the past four years, Google has been reaching into unprotected Wi-Fi networks in homes and businesses in more than 30 countries and retaining data about people’s online activities, a practice that the company said was inadvertent and has been stopped. “Here they are just out and out snooping in neighborhoods and spying on people,” said John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog, a frequent Google critic who questioned whether Google violated wiretapping laws. </p>

Few Hardballs from Shareholders at Google’s Annual Meeting

May 14, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Perhaps the toughest shareholder question came from consumer advocate John Simpson, who asked Schmidt whether Google had agreed to a reported $700 million “kill fee” if Google’s $750 million acquisition of the mobile advertising company AdMob is rejected by government antitrust regulators. Schmidt neither confirmed or denied that number, but predicted the deal would be approved by the Federal Trade Commission, which is expected to rule in coming days.

Google’s Growth Markets Include Lobbying

May 14, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Those numbers might have gone unnoticed if not for a handful of critics who fear Google is becoming too dominant in its markets and is seeking to become too influential in Washington, D.C. Perhaps chief among those critics is John Simpson, a consumer advocate at the nonprofit Consumer Watchdog. Simpson says he would like to see the Justice Department launch a broad antitrust investigation of Google.

We’re number one… or not. The vagaries of Google’s search engine.

May 12, 2010  ·  John M. Simpson

<p> As we ready Inside Google, now in "Beta" mode, for its formal launch I've been checking various search engines to see where the site ranks. Today <a href="http://google.com">Google</a> put our new site at number one. Take a...</p>

Mercury General Should Disclose Family Ties, Watchdog Tells SEC

May 11, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> George Joseph, the founder, chairman and largest shareholder of insurer Mercury General Corp. (MCY), employs his nephew as an executive in the firm without disclosing the family tie to investors, a consumer group said Tuesday. Joseph's nephew, Charles Toney II, is the Los Angeles-based auto insurer's chief actuary, according to a letter from Consumer Watchdog to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. "This relationship presents a significant potential conflict of interest," Consumer Watchdog President Jamie Court wrote in the letter. The advocacy group said it has "concerns regarding the accuracy and completeness of securities filings" by the company. </p>

Can Google explain this search result?

May 11, 2010  ·  John M. Simpson

<p> As we have been putting Consumer Watchdog's new <a href="http://InsideGoogle.com">Inside Google Website</a> through its paces while it's still in "Beta" mode,  I discovered an example of exactly the sort thing Google needs to explain. </p>

Consumer Watchdog Targets Google

May 9, 2010  ·  John M. Simpson

<p> Simpson acknowledges that Consumer Watchdog's strategy is to grab attention on a complex topic that is often overlooked in Washington. Drawing from his journalism background, he said, he knows he's got a better story when focusing on the biggest Silicon Valley brand around. Talking to lawmakers about privacy concerns in digital book search can have a eye-glazing effect. Saying Google isn't living up to its motto to "don't be evil" resonates with people, he said. </p>

Insurers Scramble to Persuade Regulators To Class Certain Outlays as ‘Medical’

May 7, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> In a recent post on the website of Consumer Watchdog.org, the group's research director, Judy Dugan, took exception to a recent earnings report by United HealthCare that credited good results in part to 'expense management.' </p> <p> "Strong expense management' refers to the pencil-pushers in the back room whose job is to delay and deny the care your doctor prescribes," Dugan blogged. "Delay is almost as profitable as denial. Every day a dollar is not spent is a day it earns interest for the company. Yet this is one of the functions that insurance companies are now transferring into the 'medical care' column. By moving administrative jobs into the medical care category, United HealthCare will be able to meet health reform requirements for medical loss ratios of up to 85% without sweating, and still make just as much profit," Dugan added. "A lot of what insurance companies can get away with will depend on how new regulations to govern the health care reforms are written -- and who gets to write them." </p>

Facebook Bug Exposes Private Chats

May 6, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

A bug allowed Facebook users to view their friends' chat sessions on the site, prompting the social-networking company to disable its internal instant-messaging service. The bug also let people see their friends' pending friend requests. John Simpson, an official with Consumer Watchdog, was displeased with the incident. "Once again we see what happens when companies push the technological envelope with little concern for consumers' privacy rights," he said via e-mail.

New Ethics Rule Will Limit Schwarzenegger’s Use of Donations for Trips

May 5, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<strong>Unlimited contributions are still allowed, but gifts of more than $420 can't be earmarked for individuals.</strong><br /> <br /> Campaign finance reformers say any trips meant to benefit taxpayers should be publicly financed. "The money we might save by having some private donor pay is easily overwhelmed by having some special interest with the kind of influence they get when they send the governor on a luxury vacation," said Doug Heller, executive director of the Santa Monica nonprofit Consumer Watchdog.

Facebook Bug Exposed Users’ Chats, Requests for Friends

May 5, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Facebook said Wednesday that the private chat messages of users were exposed to other “friends” in their networks today because of a software bug. “The problem is that Silicon Valley companies rush to get technology out and they just do things and ask for forgiveness later,” said John Simpson, who works on privacy issues for Consumer Watchdog. “But too much is at stake.”

Consumer Groups Criticize Congressional Bill on Online Consumer Privacy

May 4, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Consumer watchdog groups say a draft congressional bill falls short of its proclaimed intention of protecting the privacy of consumers using the Internet. During a conference call with reporters Tuesday, the groups said they would push for changes to the bill.