Privacy

Consumer Watchdog investigations and advocacy on data privacy, surveillance, AI, and your right to control your personal information.

DMV: Motivational or just mean?

August 14, 2008 · Doug Heller

When someone faxed us this <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/images/WarningLetter.gif" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> they received, apparently from the <a href="http://dmv.ca.gov/">California DMV</a>, we thought it was a joke. "IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO CHANGE, YOUR DRIVING WILL CONTINUE TO PRESENT A RISK..."

Calif. Advances ‘Pay-As-You-Drive’ Legislation

August 8, 2008 · Consumer Watchdog

SACRAMENTO, CA -- A California bill to allow pay-as-you-drive insurance plans using electronic monitoring devices moved a step closer to approval with passage by the Senate Appropriations Committee. Consumer and privacy-rights groups fear the potential tracking of data including mileage, speed, acceleration, location and time of day.

Perata Solicits for Own Backers

August 1, 2008 · Consumer Watchdog

Nonprofit Group Run By an Adviser Spends to Assist Senator's Agenda Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata has solicited at least $200,000 this year from political interest groups for a nonprofit foundation that...

See how stem cell agency spends your money

July 28, 2008 · John M. Simpson

Interested in how the <a href="http://www.cirm.ca.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">California stem cell agency</a> has so far parceled out $554 million in research grants? The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has recently ...

Arnold’s wage cut proposal draws heavy fire

July 26, 2008 · Carmen Balber

<a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/politicians/articles/?storyId=21484">Governor Schwarzenegger's attempt to drastically cut wages</a> for hundreds of thousands of state workers until a new budget is approved has drawn fire from...

Part of the check is in the mail

July 23, 2008 · Carmen Balber

The annual failure of the legislature to pass a budget on time is about to hit more Californians in the pocketbook. Governor Schwarzenegger is planning on cutting wages for over 200,000 state employees to $6.55/hr –...

Stem cell agency management becomes Old Boys Club

July 22, 2008 · John M. Simpson

Looking at recent top hires at the <a href="http://www.cirm.ca.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">California stem cell agency</a>, I'd been focusing on the fat salaries being paid to the executives. Today a more troubling trend dawned on me: The...

Stem Cell Patent Ruling Contested

July 19, 2008 · Consumer Watchdog

Two consumer groups yesterday filed an appeal of a U.S. Patent and Trade Office ruling that said the University of Wisconsin's Alumni Research Foundation could maintain its patents on all embryonic stem cells used in the United States. ...

Stem cell agency jetsetters

July 18, 2008 · John M. Simpson

Executives of <a href="http://www.cirm.ca.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">California's stem cell agency</a> are planning to hit the road next year resulting in an eye-popping 287 percent increase in the agency's travel budget and...

Consumer Groups File Appeal to WARF Stem Cell Patents

July 18, 2008 · Consumer Watchdog

Two consumer groups that had challenged three key human embryonic stem cell patents held by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation said Friday that they have filed an appeal to the patent office's decision to uphold the patents.

It Costs What?! Calculating the CPI Requires a Lot of Shopping Around

July 17, 2008 · Consumer Watchdog

The consumer price index, used to gauge inflation, has jumped 5% since June 2007. Figuring it out means the Bureau of Labor Statistics staff must collect prices for items such as pizza, laptops and cars. Kim Gomory...

Klein quits Americans for Cures presidency

July 15, 2008 · John M. Simpson

<a href="http://www.cirm.ca.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">California stem cell agency</a> Chairman Bob Klein has stepped down as president of the stem cell advocacy and lobbying group <a href="http://www.americansforcures.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Americ...</a>