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.
Who are the special people?

Who are the special people?

<p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>So what happened to the politicians is exactly what's going to happen to their constituents -- their Social Security numbers (their entire Social Security numbers, too) are going to be traded like baseball cards on the Internet. When it happens to taxpay</p>
Fight for privacy law gets rougher

Fight for privacy law gets rougher

<h3>Assemblyman upset by partial SS numbers given out; Majority Leader Chan may order probe</h3><p class="source">Oakland Tribune</p> <p>If Californians are going to squelch telemarketers, junk mail and spam, they'll have to change financial privacy rules themselves with a landmark vote next March</p>
Privacy advocates strike back at lawmakers

Privacy advocates strike back at lawmakers

<h3>Partial Social Security numbers of Assembly members who rejected disclosure limits posted on Internet</h3><p class="source">Santa Rosa Press-Democrat (California)</p> <p>"This is all about politicians not caring enough about privacy until their privacy is at issue," said Jamie Court, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights.</p>
Privacy advocate makes public point to opposing lawmakers

Privacy advocate makes public point to opposing lawmakers

<p class="source">San Jose Mercury News (California)</p> <p>"I wish the politicians who are worked up about the invasion of their own privacy were just as worked up about the privacy of the other 29 million Californians," said Court, the author of a new book about corporate power.</p>
Intimidation alleged in state privacy issue;

Intimidation alleged in state privacy issue;

<h3>Lawmakers say group's publishing of partial Social Security numbers is meant to influence the vote.</h3><p class="source">Orange County Register (California)</p> <p>"I wish they were this aggravated about what identity-theft victims feel before the vote," Court said. He wants stronger legislation. "The real anger should be at the companies that sold the Social Security numbers for $26," he said.</p>
Extreme lobbying upsets Assembly;

Extreme lobbying upsets Assembly;

<h3>Lawmakers mad at response to killing privacy bill</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>Jamie Court, the executive director of the consumer protection group, said the organization was not seeking to influence the vote, noting that the numbers were posted after the bill was defeated. He also said that only the first four numbers were released</p>
Consumer Privacy Bill Rejected;

Consumer Privacy Bill Rejected;

<h3>Measure to limit sale or sharing of personal data wins only three votes on 12-member panel.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>A landmark privacy protection bill that would require Californians to give written approval before their personal financial information could be sold or shared with telemarketers and other third-party businesses was defeated by an Assembly committee</p>
Assembly panel rejects privacy bill

Assembly panel rejects privacy bill

<h3>Speier says she'll keep trying on a measure to limit use of consumer financial records.</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>SB 1 stalled in the Assembly Banking and Finance Committee, but advocates said the issue isn't dead, noting that a petition drive is under way to qualify an even tougher measure for the March ballot.</p>