Privacy

Calif. Privacy Battle Not Over

August 28, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Wired Magazine</p> <p>The California-based Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights today accused President Bush of backtracking on campaign promises to expand financial privacy.</p>

Would-be investor runs afoul of Patriot Act

August 28, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>Consumer advocates also fear the Patriot Act will give companies another reason to invade privacy and prevent some people without criminal intent from opening accounts. "This ranges between stupid, insidious and dangerous," says Doug Heller with FTCR.</p>

Privacy group gets CIA chief’s personal data for 26 dollars

August 28, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Agence France Presse</p> <p>"While Bush has the Secret Service to protect him, the 750,000 American victims of identity theft each year are counting on the president to identify more with their needs than the corporations'.", said Jamie Court, executive director with FTCR.</p>

New state privacy law threatened;

August 28, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Federal law could block bills protecting financial information</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>"Ideally, there should be a strong national law. Consumers should have the right to say no to affiliate sharing." said Jamie Court of Santa Monica's Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumers Rights, while in Washington.</p>

Group: Washington to Limit Financial Privacy Rights

August 28, 2003  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">FOXNews.com</p> <p>Jamie Court complained that President Bush has failed to fulfill campaign promises to protect consumers' privacy. Before the 2000 election, Bush called privacy a "fundamental right" and said Americans should have "absolute control" over personal info</p>

Group gets private data on Tenet, Ashcroft to underscore need for tougher laws

August 27, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Chicago Tribune</p> <p>"Banks and insurers should not be able to go to Washington as an end-run around the most protective state privacy laws," said FTCR's executive director, Jamie Court, who objected to the proposed federal pre-emption of tougher state privacy laws.</p>

Don’t Override State Privacy Laws, Activist Says

August 27, 2003  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">Reuters</p> <p>"How safe is America's privacy when you can buy the Social Security number of the director of the CIA for $26 on the Internet?" said Court, who heads the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica, CA.</p>

Consumer advocacy group discovers Social Security numbers and home addresses for senior government officials for sale on Internet

August 27, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">NBC-TV Nightly News (6:30 PM ET)</p> <p>The California-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights said that for $26 each it was able to buy the Social Security numbers and home addresses of Attorney General John Ashcroft, CIA director George Tenet and Karl Rove.</p>

Former Davis Donors Give to Rivals; Schwarzenegger Breaks Money Vow;

August 26, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>The governor is the top fund-raiser. The actor takes donations after pledging</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>"To say a huge developer and other special interests won't come knocking at your door is stupid," said Jamie Court, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica. "He has to give this money back or else he will</p>

An Outsider Candidate Who Favors Insider Advice

August 26, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The New York Times</p> <p>"The election is shaping up as a runoff between the same political establishment that got us into this mess over the last 10 years," Mr. Rosenfield of FTCR said. "The Wilson Republicans and the Davis Democrats."</p>

Candidate made call in fraud probe of kin

August 23, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Bustamante's aunt was imprisoned in meals-program fraud case.</h3><p class="source">Orange County Register (California)</p> <p>"He's not calling up State Farm, he is calling a state government agency over which he has some influence," said Doug Heller, with the FTCR, "The danger is the recipient of the call might interpret that they are trying to exert influence, even if that isn</p>

Assembly OKs whistle-blower bill

August 22, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">ASSOCIATED PRESS</p> <p>A bill broadening whistle-blower protections for employees who report, or refuse to participate in, illegal employer activities was approved Thursday by the state Assembly.</p>