Privacy

Stem Cell Agency Draws Capitol Scrutiny – Again

March 18, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Lawmakers -- again -- are questioning the operations and culture of the state's stem cell program, which was created by voters nearly six years ago in Proposition 71 and has placed California at the forefront of stem-cell research and development. John Simpson, of Consumer Watchdog, among others, noted that 17 of the ICOC's 29 board members have ties to entities that have received stem cell funding -- more than $900 million by one estimate. Simpson also said that key proceedings of the ICOC's scientific advisory group, which makes recommendations on grant funding to the full ICOC, are not disclosed to the public.

FTC commissioner blasts Google and Facebook

March 17, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Outgoing <a href="http://www.ftc.gov/commissioners/harbour/index.shtml">Federal Trade Commissioner Pamela Jones Harbour</a> blasted Google and Facebook on Wednesday for insufficient concern about consumers' privacy.<br/> <br/> Harbour,...</p>

“Google HomeView” arrives in Germany

March 17, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Many Germans have objected strenuously to Google's Street View service saying that it is an improper invasion of their privacy.<br /> <br /> Now there's a delightful ... </p>

Google’s arrogant, self-righteous executives

March 16, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Google <a href="http://www.google.com/corporate/execs.html#eric" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CEO Eric Schmidt's</a> recent speech to the <a href="http://www.ameinfo.com/222534.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Abu Dhabi Media Summit</a> offers a revealing glimpse...</a>

FTC May Put Kibosh On Google’s AdMob Deal

March 11, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Despite the fact that the mobile advertising market is still young and fragmented, U.S. regulators apparently are concerned that Google's proposed acquisition of AdMob could give it an unfair competitive advantage. Google got an inkling that the FTC might want to give the deal a second look shortly after it was announced. At the end of December, the company received a "second request" for additional information from the agency, Paul Feng, group product manager, wrote in <a href="http://googlepublicpolicy.blogspot.com/2009/12/update-on-our-admob-acquisition.html">Google's Public Policy blog</a>. Shortly thereafter, two consumer groups -- Consumer Watchdog and the Center for Digital Democracy -- asked the Federal Trade Commission to <a href="http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/68996.html">block the deal</a>, arguing that it would lessen competition and harm consumers, advertisers and application developers, among others.

FTC reportedly seeking sworn statements in Google-AdMob deal

March 11, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Antitrust regulators are reported by <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aKExU2YhcqLU&pos=4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bloomberg news service</a> to be seeking sworn statements from <a href="http://www.google.com/corporate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Google's</a> competitors and advertisers as they continue to investigate the the Internet giant's proposed $750 million deal to buy <a href="http://www.admob.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AdMob</a>. </p>

Australian news video calls Google “a company on steroids”

March 9, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> A video produced by <a href="http://hungrybeast.abc.net.au/well-here-we-are-then" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hungry Beast</a>, a weekly news show on Australian television puts Internet giant ... </p>

Google Identifies Competitors

March 9, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Google sees an Internet far more crowded with competitors than just a year ago. At least, that's what the company is telling government regulators. Critics of Google's dominance in search — Americans use Google for about two thirds of U.S. searches, and the company has more than 70 percent of U.S. search advertising revenue, and about 90 percent in Europe — say the expanded list of competitors is an attempt by Google to paper over its dominance. "I think they are feeling the heat from several serious antitrust investigations, and that's reflected in the language they are using in the 10-K," said John Simpson, of Consumer Watchdog. He argued in a recent blog post that Google's statements that it has many competitors actually proves that "the opposite is actually true" and that "the real risk to Google's business is not from competition," but that regulators in the U.S. and Europe "will act in the interest of consumers and force the Internet giant to engage" in competition.

Candidates Find Incumbent Advantage Extends To Web

March 4, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Thirteen years in the House and a stint as majority leader have furnished Rep.Roy Blunt, R-Mo., with useful GOP and K Street support for his Senate bid. But Blunt's long resume also means a boost from another source: Google. Google's overwhelming dominance of the search market has brought its power to determine marketplace outcomes under new scrutiny this year. Tech company Foundem and other so-called "search neutrality" advocates allege that the search engine is gaining an unfair advantage by favoring its own products in searches. The advocacy group Consumer Watchdog wrote the Justice Department last week urging it to investigate the issue, while the European Commission is already checking out complaints from Foundem and others.<strong><br /> </strong> </p>

Good news for consumers at the FTC

March 4, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

The senate confirmed two appointees to the <a href="http://ftc.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Federal Trade Commission</a> Wednesday night, tipping the balance on the five-member commission to three seats appointed by Democrats to two held by Republican...

The Onion nails Google on privacy

March 4, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> <a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/index" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Onion</a>, the satirical newspaper, has an on-the-mark article today that makes you realize why people are concerned about the amount of information Internet giant...</p>

Google tries to highlight competition in SEC filing

March 3, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<a href="http://www.google.com/intl/en/corporate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Google</a>, under antitrust scrutiny by the <a href="http://www.justice.gov/atr/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">U.S. Department of Justice</a>, the ...