Privacy

F.D.A. Rules on Drug Ads Sow Confusion as Applied to Web

April 18, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

“Why should a drug company be able to advertise one of its products in the best possible light in 25 or 40 or 150 characters when you can’t disclose all the side effects in that space?” said Jamie Court, the president of Consumer Watchdog, a public interest group in Santa Monica, Calif. The Obama F.D.A., he said, was realizing “that digital marketing needs to encompass tougher standards than are currently being put into use by the drug companies.”

Opposition to Google Books Settlement Jells

April 17, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

With a May 5 deadline for filing objections to the Google books settlement looming, opposition to and criticism of the settlement continues to cement.

Internet Archive Latest to Object to Google Settlement

April 17, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

The Internet Archive has sent a <a href="http://www.opencontentalliance.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter </a>to Judge Dennis Chin, the judge overseeing the Google/Authors Guild, AAP case seeking permission to file a motion that would ask the court to alter the proposed settlement to give other companies that have scanned printed books the same copyright protection of orphan works that would be granted to Google in the settlement.  The same argument was made last week by the Consumer Watchdog group when it asked the Justice Department to intervene in the settlement.

Why trust Google Health still in beta test mode?

April 16, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Why would anybody trust their private medial records to a service that by its own admission doesn't have all the kinks worked out?  Believe it or not, that's exactly what <a href="http://www.google.com/intl/en/corporate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> </a><a href="http://www.google.com/intl/en/corporate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Google</a> is asking you to do with its <a href="https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?service=health&nui=1&continue=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fhealth%2Fp%2F&followup=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fhealth%2Fp%2F&rm=hide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Google Health service.</a>

Google’s solution for journalism: Invade your privacy

April 15, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<a href="http://www.google.com/intl/en/corporate/execs.html#eric" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Google Chairman Eric Schmidt</a> recently sat down with <a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/opinion/editorialsandoped/oped/columnists/maureendowd/index.html?inline=nyt-per" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd</a> and discussed how newspapers can emerge from their downward spiral.  His solution, not surprisingly, is less privacy.

Remembrance of a True Progressive: Wally Marks (1931- 2009)

April 15, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

His email handle was Happy Wally.  His happiness came from his wife of 50 years, the joy of his grandchildren, and by trying to give away all of his considerable real estate fortune to make the world better.  In this goal too, Wally seemed to succeed before his death Monday.

Pacific Ethanol slams conventional wisdom in indirect land-use change at California Low Carbon hearings

April 14, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> In a related development at the California AARB hearings, it was revealed that the California Energy Commissions Vice-Chair and Presiding member, James Boyd, is married to the COO and Chief of Staff of the Western States Petroleum<br /> Association, an oil industry trade organization.  Consumer Watchdog has protested Boyds presence in matters involving the oil industry. </p>

Banks as entitled, spoiled brats

April 13, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> I read the news today, oh boy. Start with Goldman Sachs' <a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct2=us%2F0_0_s_0_0_t&usg=AFQjCNHLUrAnZSNf0vOlmTnUk9ZKVWNRPg&cid=1332144397&ei=i8XjSeDUA4-skASywfJo&rt=SEARCH&vm=STANDARD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FBT-CO-20090413-709963.html">first quarter profit</a> of $1.8 billion, about twice what "analysts" thought it would be. Then add in the good <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123958015246312123.html">Wall Street Journal roundup</a> on the many creative ways that the big banks are gouging their customers, particularly with stratospheric credit card fees. It's usury and robbery wrapped in doubletalk. But watch--they'll act all shocked and offended when taxpayers demand the heads of CEOs. </p>

Google Book Settlement Faces Legal Assault

April 10, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> A proposed settlement in a copyright lawsuit involving Google's book search has drawn applause, envy, and from a handful of critics, an attempt to derail the deal. While most groups concerned with Google's singular access to orphan works are considering filing briefs with the court before a June 11 hearing, at least one group, Consumer Watchdog, is asking the Justice Department to intervene and plans a meeting on Monday with department officials. "Google's going to have an unfair advantage against any competitor because they will have already settled this issue," said Consumer Watchdog President Jamie Court. </p>

Google Digital Book ‘Monopoly’ Feels Heat — Redmond Blamed

April 7, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Complaints over Google's sweeping digital books settlement have reached a boiling point. And now, a familiar Google nemesis has called on the US Department of Justice to scrutinize the Book Search pact. Today, the consumer watchdog known only as Consumer Watchdog tossed a letter at US Attorney General Eric Holder and other DoJ officials, asking them to delay the settlement until some changes are made. Consumer Watchdog is the consumer watchdog that <a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/02/26/google_watchdog_kerfuffle/">Google famously tried to snuff out</a> after taking issue with its press release tactics.<br />

Group: Consumers Not Considered In Google Book Search Settlement

April 7, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Advocacy group Consumer Watchdog has joined the ranks of organizations expressing concern about the proposed Google Book Search settlement. The group criticizes the settlement on the grounds that it would give Google "an effective monopoly over digitized books" and is asking the Department of Justice to intervene.

Wall Street Journal, AP Take Aim At Google

April 7, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Traditional media is once again rattling sabers in the direction of Google and other sites that aggregate the news. There's tough talk coming from managers at The Wall Street Journal and The Associated Press that include threats of legal challenges and even name calling. Google's plan to scan orphan books and preserve them in a database is also being challenged. Google has an agreement with the The Authors Guild and the Association of American Publishers to scan the books, but a group called Consumer Watchdog says the agreement is anticompetitive and has called on U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to intervene.