Privacy

Toxics Agency Chief Condemns Racially Charged Emails

December 9, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>The head of the state’s toxics control agency said Wednesday she has disciplined two employees for using racially derogatory terms in emails, but activists called for a broader probe to determine if there is a cultural problem in the department.</p> <p>Meanwhile, an Independent Review Committee appointed by lawmakers to overhaul the state Department of Toxic Substances Control said it would review the issues raised by the emails.</p>

Racist Remarks In Emails Put California Officials On Defensive

December 9, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Racist repartee found in state emails has prompted a consumer group to call for the firing of the employees who wrote the correspondence and to request a government investigation into bias at their department.</p> <p>The emails by William Bosan and Theo Johnson, both Department of Toxic Substances Control employees, run from to mid 2013 to the beginning of this year. The emails contain derogatory remarks about people with foreign names, accents and the poor.</p> <p>Neither man could be reached for comment.</p>

Consumer Group Warns On Robot Cars; Tesla Goes There

December 3, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Tech companies and carmakers from <span class="company">Apple</span> (NASDAQ:<a class="stockRoll" href="http://research.investors.com/quotes/nasdaq-apple-inc-aapl.htm" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Corporation" rel="/StockSymbol.axd?symbol=AAPL"><span itemprop="tickerSymbol">AAPL</span></a>) to Volvo are working on self-driving cars. But robot autos don't belong under the rules of the road yet, warns Consumer Watchdog.</p>

Watchdog Fights Accelerating Autonomous Vehicle Testing Pace

November 25, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong>Google pushing for ability to accelerate development</strong></p> <p>The idea of being able to turn over all of the driving responsibilities to an autonomous fleet of vehicles gets major endorsements from federal safety officials, at least half of drivers, automakers and last, but certainly not least, Google.</p>

Self-Driving Cars May Be Coming Sooner Than You Thought

November 24, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>"Breathtaking progress has been made."</b></p> <p class="ap-story-p">LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Federal transportation officials are rethinking their position on self-driving cars with an eye toward getting the emerging technology into the public's hands, according to a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Transportation.</p>

The Ad Blockers Debate: What’s At Stake For Consumers and Web Publishers

November 24, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>Big media companies have ramped up efforts to fight the growing use of technology designed to block online ads. Here's what you need to know about why ad blockers are on the rise, and why many publishers hate them.</b></p> <p>The ad blocker battle pitting consumers and privacy advocates against big media companies heated up last week when Yahoo issued an ultimatum to some customers: Stop using software that limits ads or forget about using Yahoo Mail.</p>

Pfizer and Allergan’s $160-Billion Pharmaceutical Merger Puts New Twist On Tax-Avoiding Inversions

November 23, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>More than 65 years ago, a Los Angeles drugstore owner installed a laboratory above one of his shops to make a product that would discourage children from sucking their thumbs.</p> <p>The operation quickly changed focus to an antihistamine eye drop called Allergan. Renamed after that drug, the firm moved to Irvine and grew into a global pharmaceutical giant.</p> <p>Now, the Allergan name is being retired as part of a $160-billion merger with rival Pfizer Inc. that would create the world's largest drugmaker.</p>

City of Industry Battery Recycler Ordered To Test For Lead Pollution

November 19, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p class="inaugural">In the wake of a growing lead pollution investigation in neighborhoods around the now shuttered Exide Technologies plant in Vernon, state toxics regulators have ordered a second lead battery recycler in nearby Industry to test soil outside its property for lead contamination.</p> <p>The state Department of Toxic Substances Control has given Quemetco, Inc. until the end of the month to submit a schedule for testing, beginning with a half-mile radius around the facility at 720 S. Seventh St. Each day, the plant processes up to 1.2 million pounds of scrap and lead.</p>

You Can Count On Google For Self-Serving Spin

November 13, 2015  ·  John M. Simpson

<p>One thing is for certain when it comes to the Internet giant, whether you now refer to it as Alphabet or still call it <img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2913" alt="" src="http://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/images_coprobotcar.jpg" style="width: 275px; height: 220px; float: right; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 2px;" width="315" height="252" />Google.  The folks from Mountain View are adept at spouting self-serving spin.</p>

Privacy Groups Warn A New Safe Harbor Will Be Struck Down

November 13, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <p dir="ltr">A group of around 40 privacy groups from both sides of the Atlantic on Friday wrote to European Union and U.S. officials to say the proposal for a new data transfer agreement is insufficient to protect privacy and will likely be struck down by regulators and Europe's high court. </p>

Why Google Is A Big Marshmallow Liar Over Why Google’s Aelf-Driving Vehicle Speed Is Capped?

November 13, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Yesterday, a Google self-driving vehicle was pulled over by the Mountain View Police for driving too slow. Google is trying to turn the episode into a cute dispute to show how safe their vehicles are. The little marshmallow self-driving Google cars are not capped at 25 mph for safety as stated by the Google Self-driving car Google+ page. They are capped at 25 mph because the are classified as a low-speed vehicle (LSV) neighborhood vehicle. The little bug-eye kiosks with murals from artists are not safe at speeds above 25 mph.</p>

FCC Denies Do Not Track Petition

November 12, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has denied a petition that would force websites to honor Do Not Track requests by consumers. The petition was filed by the Consumer Watchdog, an organization designed to advocate for consumer interests.</p>