Consumer Watchdog

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Consumer Watchdog

Privacy

Consumer Watchdog investigations and advocacy on data privacy, surveillance, AI, and your right to control your personal information.
Constructing a Budget One Fundraiser at a Time

Constructing a Budget One Fundraiser at a Time

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Arnold pledged during his campaign not to build a budget while he was building a campaign war chest. At least some boosters of last night's fundraiser for Arnold in La Jolla, however, used the...</font>
France should save American states’ privacy

France should save American states’ privacy

<p class="source">MARKETPLACE (6:30 PM ET)- Minnesota Public Radio</p> <p>So France, here is your chance. Challenge the coming US law that says American states can't set their own levels of privacy protection. It would be ironic if only the French could save Americans' privacy.</p>
ARNOLD’S FIRST WEEK ENDS WITH CRITICISM, PRE-EMPTION;

ARNOLD’S FIRST WEEK ENDS WITH CRITICISM, PRE-EMPTION;

<p class="source">The Daily News of Los Angeles</p> <p>FTCR, a consumer-advocate group that has taken on both parties, has a web page that includes a blog, a list of major Schwarzenegger contributors and those whom the new governor appoints to various jobs and a list of issues on which it disagrees.</p>
A Car Dealer’s Kind of Governor

A Car Dealer’s Kind of Governor

<p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>I thought the whole idea of the recall was to get the stink out of politics. Jamie Court, a consumer watchdog, saw the Boeckmanns' $50,000 investment in Arnold as a bargain to get an international celebrity to come and hawk your product.</p>
Sacramento’s same old songs

Sacramento’s same old songs

<p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>Arnold's actions will determine whether the recall election really produced a "new day" and genuine change -- or just a Gray Davis with charm.</p>
Schwarzenegger names interim DMV director

Schwarzenegger names interim DMV director

<h3>Chon Gutierrez, a career government administrator, replaces the fired Gourley.</h3><p class="source">The Orange County Register</p> <p>"This very unceremonious firing is another sign Schwarzenegger is looking at his donors' interests and not the public's interests," said Doug Heller, a spokesman for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica.</p>
Look! It’s a special interest…

Look! It’s a special interest…

<h3>Governor pretends his contributors have no agenda</h3><p class="source">Ventura County Star (California)</p> <p>Moments after taking office, Schwarzenegger signed an executive order to freeze all pending state regulations and to review all regulations developed over the last five years. Jamie Court, president of FTCR, called it "a special interest coup d'etat".</p>
Arnold straddles California

Arnold straddles California

<h3>On inauguration day the new governor made nice with Democrats, but feminists still want a sexual-assault investigation and the right remains suspicious.</h3><p class="source">Salon.com</p> <p>The non-partisan Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a consistent critic of Gray Davis when he was in office, hired a truck to circle the inauguration Monday with a 20-foot sign bearing the Webster's dictionary definition of "special interest."</p>
TAKING CHARGE; SCHWARZENEGGER PROMISES QUICK ACTION;

TAKING CHARGE; SCHWARZENEGGER PROMISES QUICK ACTION;

<h3>First action is to repeal tripling of vehicle fee</h3><p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights called the freeze on new regulations "a special-interest coup d 'etat" that halts controls on pesticides, drinking water standards, privacy protection and electronic waste.</p>