Privacy

State Stem Cell Board Needs Overhaul, Group Says

June 27, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<span>To reduce potential conflicts of interest in the state's $3 billion stem cell research program, a government watchdog group called Friday for an overhaul of the program's governing board. T</span><span>he recommendations drew praise from John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog, who had sought such changes. "This is a thoughtful and thorough analysis from a bipartisan group with no ax to grind," he said.</span>

Marie Csete Resigns as CIRM Chief Scientific Officer, 15 Months Into the Job

June 26, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Marie Csete will resign Aug. 1 as the chief scientific officer of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine after 15 months in the $310,000-a-year post, Consumer Watchdog, a nonprofit group that monitors developments at the state stem cell agency, reported on Wednesday.

Thanks for the bailout, suckers

June 26, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> The big banks just launched a supposedly 'grass-roots' campaign to try and rehabilitate their image. </p> <p> Said Americans United for Change today: “What are they going to call it?  The ‘Thanks for the Bailout, Suckers - Now Quit Whining’ Tour?” </p>

Reaction To CIRM Science Boss Resignation

June 25, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

The resignation of the top science officer at California's stem cell research funding agency, some say, is exposing deeper management problems at the San Francisco-based agency. Says John Simpson, a frequent CIRM critic at Consumer Watchdog: "One doesn't walk away from a $310,000 a year job at the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) without a very good reason. Members of CIRM's oversight board, the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee (ICOC), must demand an explanation from Chairman Bob Klein and President Alan Trounson."

Stem cell agency’s chief science officer quits

June 24, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<a href="http://www.cirm.ca.gov/?q=PressRelease_031208" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dr. Marie Csete</a> has resigned as chief science officer at <a href="http://www.cirm.ca.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">California's stem cell agency</a> effective Aug. 1 after a little more than a year with the organization. I'd say her departure after such a short tenure -- and with no clear indication of where she is headed next -- speaks volumes about CIRM's management.  Or should I say, mismanagement.

Hill Mulls Online Privacy Rules — And Which Agency Would Oversee

June 19, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Consumer groups want rules requiring a standard disclosure and opt-in form, a ban on tracking information on a consumer's health, sexual orientation and financial condition and a "do-not-track" registry that would enable people to declare they don't want to be tracked, according to a written statement from the Consumer Federation of America. That group, the Center for Digital Democracy, Consumer Watchdog and the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse have agreed on the principles and are urging policymakers to adopt them. Allowing industry to self-regulate won't work, they say, because most companies rely on "opt-out" mechanisms that are hidden from consumers. And the FTC's principles for behavioral advertising "don't provide a basis for action to stop abuses," the statement said.

DC Dispatch: Reining in mortgage, bank account and credit card abuses

June 17, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

The administration releases its financial reform plan in just a few minutes (download it <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/resources/AdministrationFinRef.pdf">here</a>.) The devil will, of course, be in the details, but it’s a good start on one crucial piece for consumers - making financial products safer...

DC Dispatch: Busting the banks – a real voice for reform

June 16, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

It’s time the financial industry stopped calling the shots in Washington. That’s why Consumer Watchdog has joined a <a href="http://ourfinancialsecurity.org/about/our-coalition/">broad coalition of reformers</a> -- calling on Congress and the administration to rein in Wall Street greed and protect the financial future of real Americans...

Google Praised For Agreeing To Improve E-mail Security

June 16, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Consumer Watchdog praised Google on Tuesday for agreeing to offer improved security for users of its online e-mail services like Gmail.

Bob Klein To Leave CIRM Chairman Job

June 12, 2009  ·  John M. Simpson

Bob Klein, the architect of California’s $3 billion stem cell research funding program, will not seek a new term as chairman of the agency. Klein’s six-year term expires at the end of 2010. Klein made the announcement at the <a class="story_clink" href="http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/related_content.html?topic=California%20Institute%20for%20Regenerative%20Medicine">California Institute for Regenerative Medicine</a>’s finance subcommittee meeting today, reported the California Stem Cell Report blog. It cited a blog item written by John Simpson of <a class="story_clink" href="http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/related_content.html?topic=Consumer%20Watchdog">Consumer Watchdog</a>, which tracks CIRM spending and policies.

Stem cell chairman to step down at end of term

June 12, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<a href="http://www.cirm.ca.gov/cirm/node/652" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bob Klein</a>, chairman of California's  stem cell agency oversight board, plans to step down at the end of his six-year term in 2010.<br/> <br/> He made his plans clear during...

Google Says It Loves Competition

June 11, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

With Justice Department <a href="http://government.zdnet.com/?p=4918">scrutiny over the Google Books Settlement</a> only the the leading edge of antitrust regulators’ attention to Google, the company has launched a dog-and-pony show dedicated to combating the impression that more control is needed. <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/resources/Googlepresentation.pdf">In a presentation (PDF)</a> acquired by Consumer Watchdog, Google public affairs lead Adam Kovacevich argued that Google is anything but anti-competitive. Its success comes from “learning by doing,” the presentation says.