Privacy

DOJ Not Pleased With Latest Google Book Agreement

February 4, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Although the amended settlement agreement for Google's Book Search addressed some concerns the U.S. Justice Department had, it still could give the company anticompetitive advantages in the digital book marketplace, the agency said on Thursday. The nonprofit advocacy group Consumer Watchdog praised the Justice Department's stance. "The settlement still abuses the class-action mechanism and purports to enroll absent class members automatically into new business 'opportunities,' in violation of current copyright laws," Consumer Watchdog reiterated from its friend-of-the-court brief opposing the agreement as modified. </p>

Two Congressmen ask Justice to scrutinize Google Books deal, government will comment on revised deal Thursday

February 4, 2010  ·  John M. Simpson

<p> Two Texas Congressmen <a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/reps-gonzalez--green-ask-doj-to-scrutinize-google-books-settlement-protect-individual-authors--publishers-83477272.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">have asked the U.S.</a><a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/reps-gonzalez--green-ask-doj-to-scrutinize-google-books-settlement-protect-individual-authors--publishers-83477272.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> of Justice</a> to ensure that  the proposed Google Books Settlement not hurt minority publishers and small businesses. <a href="http://www.justice.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The department</a> is scheduled to file its view of the amended settlement in federal court on Thursday. </p>

Google’s 5 principles pay lip service to privacy

February 3, 2010  ·  John M. Simpson

Google <a href="http://googlepublicpolicy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">decided to take note </a>of International Data Privacy Day last week by publishing their five guiding privacy principles.  Here are the bullet points and there is ...

California Lawmakers Agree To Pay Fines Over Gift Disclosure

February 2, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Thirty-one California lawmakers have reached tentative agreement with the state's political watchdog agency to pay $9,400 in fines for failing to disclose gifts from interest groups. Doug Heller, executive director of Consumer Watchdog, a nonprofit political group, applauded the FPPC for taking action but characterized the size of the fines as little more than a slap on the wrist to lawmakers who can easily pay from campaign coffers. "Every single one of these politicians has a lawyer making sure they don't mess these things up, so the fact that the problem was so rampant tells me that it deserves more attention than just a $200 fine," Heller said. </p>

Steve Jobs blasts Google’s ‘Don’t be evil’ motto

February 2, 2010  ·  John M. Simpson

The tech <a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/02/01/steve_jobs_on_google/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">blogosphere is buzzing</a> with Apple <a href="http://www.apple.com/pr/bios/jobs.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CEO Steve Jobs'</a> assessment of Google's...</a>

FTC focusing on online privacy concerns

January 30, 2010  ·  John M. Simpson

Online privacy protection for consumers has been built around the idea of "notice and choice" but it was clear to me at Thursday's <a href="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/workshops/privacyroundtables/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Federal Trade Commission...

Google E-Book Bid Still Under Fire

January 29, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Google's bid to secure the digital rights to millions of books remains under attack from rivals and other critics trying to block a revised legal settlement that would unlock a vast electronic library. The most strident criticism to the changes so far has come from the same foes that have spearheaded the resistance since last summer. The opposing camp includes the Open Book Alliance, a group including Google rivals Microsoft Corporation, Yahoo and Amazon.com, as well as Consumer Watchdog, a group that fights abusive business practices.

Last-Minute Objections Filed To Google Book Settlement

January 29, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<div id="hn-headline"> WASHINGTON, D.C. — Critics of the revised legal settlement with US authors and publishers that would allow Google to scan and sell millions of books online filed a flurry of last-minute objections on Thursday. Consumer Watchdog said "the revised settlement suffers from the same fundamental problems as its predecessor." It said it notably fails to do enough to protect reader privacy, violates copyright laws and gives "unfair competitive advantages to Google." </div>

Groups File Briefs In Google Books Case

January 28, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Consumer Watchdog urged the court to reject the settlement, saying it's anticompetitive and violates U.S. and international law. "This scheme acts to the disadvantage of absent class members and would result in unfair competitive advantages to Google in the search engine, electronic book sales, and other markets, to the detriment of the public interest. Along the way, the settlement raises significant international law and privacy concerns," the group said in it's brief.

Consumers Have A Right To Online Anonymity

January 28, 2010  ·  John M. Simpson

<p> The FTC's job is make sure that consumers have control of what data is gathered, how it is used and how long it's kept. Consumers must first be able to see what data Google and the other online companies have accumulated, then delete it if they wish or prevent it from being gathered in the first place. Control is the key. Google could long ago have offered everyone a simple "make me anonymous" button. But it's not likely that Google or any other company will voluntarily give us that control, because it endangers their advertising profits. </p> <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/01/27/ED3E1BOCHD.DTL"></a>

Pay Goldman: Save freedom, apple pie and the American Way

January 28, 2010  ·  Carmen Balber

In a performance that was par for the Treasury Secretary’s appearances before Congress, Tim Geithner smirked through a morning of grilling by Representatives from both sides of the aisle who alternately complained that his testimony “stretches credulity” and that the actions on behalf of Goldman Sachs “stink… to the high heaven”....

California Gift-Limits Bill Sidetracked Before Assembly Vote

January 27, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Doug Heller, executive director of Consumer Watchdog, a nonprofit political group, said the value of gifts by interest groups is not worth the loss in public image from accepting them. "Most working people don't get gifts every day, and in Sacramento they've gotten used to that," Heller said. "So it's not easy for politicians to walk away from this perk. But they should run from it." </p>