Privacy

Microsoft vs. Google: When It Comes To The Cloud, It’s War

November 4, 2009 · Consumer Watchdog

"All warfare is based on deception," goes the famous line attributed to <a href="http://www.military-quotes.com/Sun-Tzu.htm">Sun Tzu in the Art of War</a>. It may very well be the operating principle that both Google and Microsoft have taken to heart in their battle for dominance of the office desktop and cloud. Case in point: <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20091027-721650.html">The recent battle between the two companies</a> to sell office productivity and email services to the city of Los Angeles. Last month, before the city made a decision, Google downplayed an attack on the security of its cloud-based offerings by <a href="https://consumerwatchdog.org">Consumer Watchdog</a> -- but quickly published a "fact check" document to distribute to city officials to support its claims about reliability and security. <a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2009/10/14/google-using-double-talk-cloud-security-says-l-consumer-group">According to one report</a>, Google suggested that Consumer Watchdog was "being paid to target Google specifically," without publicly naming the party allegedly paying the group.

Who said Joe Lieberman wasn’t hilarious?

November 3, 2009 · Judy Dugan

Only the vastly under-seen cartoonist Tom Tomorrow could mash up the public option, Joe Lieberman and Harry Reid, and make a tragicomedy of it. <a href="http://tinyurl.com/yansglh">See it here</a>, or below.

Just Say No – To Signature Gatherers

November 3, 2009 · Consumer Watchdog

Mercury Insurance is behind a measure to roll back part of the 1988 Proposition 103 and allow insurance rates based partly on the basis of a driver's record of having insurance coverage or not. Not on a driver's record of tickets and/or accidents - nobody argues with that. This one would let companies collect more from drivers who have let their insurance coverage lapse for any reason, ranging from illness to giving up driving for a few months or year. "Nothing in the petition summary for this tells voters about the premium increases. ... Mercury's proposal would allow," says Harvey Rosenfield, founder of the Consumer Watchdog group and author of Proposition 103, which rolled back rates for all types of insurance in California. Rosenfield calls Attorney General Jerry Brown "shameful" for altering the summary, which initially pointed out the potential rate hikes.

Health Insurance Cheaper In Suburbs – Worst Downtown

November 2, 2009 · Judy Dugan

Wanna lower your health insurance premiums? Move to the suburbs. According to data compiled by Chicago-based Norvax Inc., the further you live from downtown, the less expensive your health insurance becomes. "It's one reason we need health care reform," Consumer Watchdog research director <a href="http://www.suntimes.com/technology/guy/1859471,CST-FIN-ECOL02.article">Judy Dugan told the Sun-Times</a>. "To get rid of this kind of weird disparity in pricing."

Ethics Board Clears Nunez

October 28, 2009 · Consumer Watchdog

The second complaint against Nunez, filed by the nonprofit group Consumer Watchdog, concerned his use of a small charity as a conduit to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in corporate donations on events such as Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez's Toy Drive and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez's Soccerfest. The charity had not filed a tax return in two years and was therefore operating illegally, according to state tax authorities.

Google Beats Microsoft in the E-Mail Battle of Los Angeles

October 28, 2009 · Consumer Watchdog

Google won the battle with Microsoft for the right to move Los Angeles' 30,000 municipal employees to its e-mail system, knocking out Novell's GroupWise platform for the $7.25 million contract. However, the contract comes with a caveat. Google must compensate the city if its e-mail service is breached and data is stolen. The Los Angeles Council voted to add the penalty provision 9-3. Consumer advocates applauded this motion. "Los Angeles residents cannot be sure the city's confidential or sensitive data will be secure," said John M. Simpson, consumer advocate with Consumer Watchdog, "but at least they know there will be a penalty if security is compromised. It's essential that this project be closely watched to ensure that Google keeps its promises."

Google Selected To Handle City’s E-mail Operation

October 27, 2009 · Consumer Watchdog

CONTRACT: Deal Could Save $5 Million, But Some Still Have Security Concerns Google trumped Microsoft and Novell on Tuesday, winning a $7.25 million contract to create an e-mail system for workers in Los Angeles. John Simpson with the group Consumer Watchdog warned against adopting the Google system until more work is completed on security. "It may be the thing of the future, but I'm not sure it is there yet," Simpson said. "The security checks don't exist yet. It is the gleam in Google's eyes." Part of the City Council's approval was based on promises from Google that it will reimburse the city for any damages.

L.A. City Council To Vote On Google E-mail Contract

October 27, 2009 · Consumer Watchdog

Questions about cost, security and reliability remain, but the council is expected to decide Tuesday. After concerns were raised about how Google would secure sensitive data from law enforcement agencies, the company announced plans to finish work on a "government cloud," a separate set of servers with enhanced security, sometime next year. But completion of the government cloud is not a guarantee, said John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog, a nonpartisan consumer advocacy group that has been critical of the Google contract. "If you build it and vet it and test it, great, but don't commit to going onto it until it actually exists," he said.

Con: Why Los Angeles Should Worry About Google’s E-mail System

October 27, 2009 · John M. Simpson

Google wants the city of Los Angeles to switch its 30,000 e-mail users to an Internet-based system it operates, but rather than address real questions about the security of such "cloud computing" systems the Internet giant changes its story depending on its audience.

Critics Call On Government To Change Rule On Electronic Medical Records

October 23, 2009 · Consumer Watchdog

The federal government is taking public comment on a rule regarding notification when electronic medical records are breached. The rule says consumers should be notified only if substantial harm has occurred. Critics say that's too high a standard.

Group: Breach Rule Flouts Congressional Intent

October 22, 2009 · Consumer Watchdog

Consumer Watchdog, an advocacy organization, has called on Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to repeal the new health information breach notification rule, saying it flouts congressional intent.

Critics Of Google Online-Books Deal Seek Delay