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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.
Assembly passes privacy bill

Assembly passes privacy bill

<p class="source">Tri-Valley Herald (Pleasanton, CA)</p> <p>"If this proposal was not half a loaf, the industry wouldn't swallow it," said Jerry Flanagan of FTCR. "We believe people deserve the full loaf they thought they were getting with their signature for a ballot initiative."</p>
Privacy measure faces beat the clock;

Privacy measure faces beat the clock;

<h3>Wednesday deadline for passage of bill</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>"The only reason SB1 was brought back, obviously, is because the governor needed some popular issues to show the state of California that he deserves to keep his job.", said Jerry Flanagan of FTCR.</p>
Groups, lawmakers cut financial privacy deal

Groups, lawmakers cut financial privacy deal

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>Jamie Court of FTCR said supporters of Davis worked out the compromise in an effort to help him survive the recall. "If you have a watered-down version of a bill that is already watered down, you have more water than substance.", said Court.</p>
Deal reached on financial privacy measure

Deal reached on financial privacy measure

<p class="source">Copley News Service</p> <p>But not all privacy advocates are happy. Jerry Flanagan of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights said the governor and supporters "took a watered down version" of the initiative and "watered it down even more."</p>
Consumer Privacy Bill Is Urged;

Consumer Privacy Bill Is Urged;

<h3>Businessman says that if the Legislature doesn't OK measure protecting financial information by next week, he will put a similar initiative on the ballot.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>The compromise did not satisfy the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, whose officials charged it was a weak substitute for the ballot measure. "We think the ballot initiative should go forward," said spokesman Jamie Court.</p>
Banks, insurance companies reluctantly OK privacy bill

Banks, insurance companies reluctantly OK privacy bill

<p class="source">Ventura County Star (California)</p> <p>The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, complained that the compromise gives too much ground and accused Davis of accepting a watered-down measure just to boost his image in the midst of a recall campaign.</p>
THE RECALL CAMPAIGN; Poll Results, Bustamante Hinder Davis’ Ability to Raise Money;

THE RECALL CAMPAIGN; Poll Results, Bustamante Hinder Davis’ Ability to Raise Money;

<h3>The governor may not reach the $15-million goal he believes is needed to defeat recall.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>"He is going to be getting a flood of money from every special interest that has a bill on his desk," said Jamie Court, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica. "This is going to be prime time fund-raising</p>
Privacy Bill Deal Reportedly Reached;

Privacy Bill Deal Reportedly Reached;

<h3>Measure would bar firms from selling consumers' financial data without consent.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>"Any new law should be at least as protective as the ballot initiative" by requiring a clearly written and easily understood consumer consent form for the consumer to sign when he or she agrees to the sharing of private information, said Jamie Court</p>
State has new law to limit unwanted faxes

State has new law to limit unwanted faxes

<p class="source">Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tennessee)</p> <p>Doug Heller, senior consumer advocate for the California-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said people get frustrated when "irrelevant junk" ties up their fax machines. "These companies are using toner and paper to advertise products.</p>
Sink or Swim – How Davis can fight the rising tide

Sink or Swim – How Davis can fight the rising tide

<p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>To survive, Davis must stop behaving like a career politician and start acting like a leader. He must offer the voters compelling reasons to keep him on for another two years. Here's what Davis (or else his replacement) must do to win:</p>