Privacy

Google’s AdMob Move In The Spotlight

December 29, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Google’s spreading reach in internet advertising triggered fresh scrutiny of its privacy practices this week, as US consumer groups used its proposed $750m acquisition of mobile advertising company AdMob to <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/resources/LtrFTCfinal.pdf">throw a new spotlight on the issue</a>. The move on Monday, by Consumer Watchdog and Center for Digital Democracy, echoes a similar campaign at the time of Google’s <a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/d2c64538-ea12-11db-91c7-000b5df10621.html">acquisition of online display advertising group DoubleClick in 2007</a>.<br />

Consumer Groups Want To Stop Google’s Purchase Of AdMob

December 29, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

San Francisco, CA -- Two consumer groups called on the Federal Trade Commission to block Google Inc.'s planned $750 million acquisition of mobile advertising company AdMob, arguing the deal undermines competition in what could become the critical billboard space of the digital age. In a joint letter to the FTC on Monday, Consumer Watchdog and the Center for Digital Democracy argued that combining the online search giant with a company that describes itself as the "largest mobile ad network globally," would harm consumers, advertisers and developers of mobile applications.

Google’s AdMob Deal Criticized

December 28, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> <strong>The U.S. Federal Trade Commission should block the planned acquisition because it would diminish competition in the mobile- ad market, consumer groups said<br /> </strong><br /> The U.S. Federal Trade Commission should block Google Inc.'s planned acquisition of AdMob Inc. because the deal would diminish competition in the mobile-advertising market, two consumer groups said. The takeover would give Google dominance in mobile advertising and hurt consumers, <a href="http://www.democraticmedia.org/jcblog/?p=904">the Center for Digital Democracy and Consumer Watchdog said in a statement today</a>. The groups said they sent a joint letter to the FTC. </p>

Advocacy Groups Urge FTC To Bar Google-AdMob Deal

December 28, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

WASHINGTON D.C. - Two advocacy groups asked U.S. antitrust regulators on Monday to block Google's purchase of AdMob, a provider of advertising services for mobile phones, on antitrust grounds and to address privacy issues raised by the deal. Consumer Watchdog, a consumer advocacy organization, and the Center for Digital Democracy, an advocate of open access to the Internet, said in a letter to the Federal Trade Commission that the proposed deal would "substantially lessen competition in the increasingly important mobile advertising market."

Consumer Groups Try To Block Google Purchase Of AdMob

December 28, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

WASHINGTON — Two consumer groups urged the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Monday to block Internet search and advertising giant Google's proposed purchase of mobile advertising company AdMob. In a joint letter, Consumer Watchdog and the Center for Digital Democracy (CDD) asked the FTC to oppose Google's acquisition of AdMob on anti-trust grounds and said the deal also raises privacy concerns.

Privacy And Consumer Advocacy Groups Cite Privacy, Competition Concerns With Google-AdMob Deal

December 28, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Google's proposed $750 million acquisition of mobile ad network AdMob would threaten privacy while also decreasing competition, two advocacy groups said Monday in a letter to Federal Trade Commission chair Jon Leibowitz. The organizations are asking the FTC to block the deal. "The consolidation of AdMob into Google would provide significant amounts of data for targeting advertising," the Center for Digital Democracy and Consumer Watchdog argue.

Consumer Groups Ask FTC To Block Google’s AdMob Deal

December 28, 2009  ·  John M. Simpson

Two consumer groups asked the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to block Google Inc.'s (GOOG) proposed $750 million acquisition of mobile advertising company AdMob Inc., as they allege the deal would diminish competition to the detriment of consumers. "Consumers will face higher prices, less innovation and fewer choices," said John M. Simpson, a consumer advocate at Consumer Watchdog. "The FTC should conduct the appropriate investigation, block the proposed Google/AdMob deal, and also address the privacy issues."

Groups Urge FTC To Block Google’s AdMob Buyout

December 28, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Two consumer groups urged U.S. regulators on Monday to block Google from acquiring mobile advertising provider AdMob, citing potential harm the deal could cause to users, advertisers and application developers. Google's plan to acquire AdMob for US$750 million, announced last month, "would substantially lessen competition in the increasingly important mobile advertising market," <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/resources/LtrFTCfinal.pdf"> said the letter</a>, signed by representatives of the groups Consumer Watchdog and Center for Digital Democracy. It was addressed to the Federal Trade Commission, the regulatory body that <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/185439/google_purchase_of_admob_gets_closer_antitrust_review.html">Google last week said</a> had asked the company for more information about the deal.

Consumer Groups Lobby FTC To Block Google’s Acquisition Of AdMob

December 28, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Google <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5BM43B20091223">recently revealed</a> that the Federal Trade Commission was intensely reviewing the search giant's <a href="http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/11/09/google-acquires-admob/">recent $750 million acquisition</a> of mobile ad network AdMob.  <a href="http://www.admob.com/">Last week</a>, Google said the FTC has made a second request for further information about the deal. Today, two consumer groups, <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/">Consumer Watchdog</a> and the <a href="http://www.democraticmedia.org/"> Center For Digital Democracy</a>, have asked the <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/latest.jsp?resourceid=4145614&access=EH">FTC to block the deal</a> on anti-trust grounds and possible privacy issues. <br />

New Prescription Drug Program Drawing Fire

December 26, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<b>CONFLICT: City Criticizes Chamber of Commerce's Effort, Saying It Is Misleading.</b><br><br> The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce has launched a new prescription drug discount program that has sparked complaints from a similar city-run effort that the chamber is misleading residents by copying the city program but offering lower benefits.<br><br>

Tis the season for the big bank lobby

December 23, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> As the work days blend into holidays, I hope you'll enjoy the holiday cheer of the Bailout Carolers <object width="425" height="344"> ... </object> </p>

Wall Street’s Fingerprints Evident On Financial Reform Bill

December 23, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

The finance industry also won exemptions to new rules for the vast derivatives market at the center of the financial crisis. Reformers wanted all these unregulated trades to be conducted on public exchanges. “Thirty percent of the market is completely exempted from any exchange. It’s a huge loophole, and we know that if a certain type of [hedge fund trader] is exempt from oversight, the market is going to gravitate to that to escape regulation,” says Carmen Balber, Washington director for Consumer Watchdog.