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Consumer Watchdog

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Consumer Watchdog investigations and advocacy on data privacy, surveillance, AI, and your right to control your personal information.
FCC Denies Do Not Track Petition

FCC Denies Do Not Track Petition

<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>
EDITORIAL: Gov. Jerry Brown Mines For Trouble At His Ranch

EDITORIAL: Gov. Jerry Brown Mines For Trouble At His Ranch

<p>Even if it was only casual interest, Gov. Jerry Brown’s request for state data on the oil and mining potential on his backcountry ranch shows a lack of judgment. It’s a misstep he should own up to and acknowledge.</p> <p>Brown’s move was revealed by the Associated Press, which reported that last year the governor asked the state agency overseeing oil drilling to give him an appraisal on his 2,700-acre spread in Colusa County, a longtime family holding he uses as a weekend getaway.</p>
Amid Criticism, FPPC Yanks Discussion Of Proposal To Remove Documents From Website

Amid Criticism, FPPC Yanks Discussion Of Proposal To Remove Documents From Website

<p>California’s political ethics watchdog has shelved plans to discuss a controversial proposal that would make it easier for staff to remove behested payment filings and other documents from its website after seven years.</p> <p>The Fair Political Practices Commission said Tuesday that the proposed regulatory amendment would not be brought up for discussion at its “Interested Persons” meeting Thursday afternoon in Sacramento.</p>
What FCC’s Move Against ‘Do Not Track’ Means

What FCC’s Move Against ‘Do Not Track’ Means

<div class="article_body"> <p>"Do Not Track" is in big trouble after a new U.S Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ruling against it. On Nov. 6, the FCC issued a ruling stating that major Web services, including Google, Facebook, YouTube, Pandora, Netflix and LinkedIn, do not have to honor Do Not Track requests.</p>
FCC Dismisses Petition For Websites To Honor ‘Do Not Track’ Requests

FCC Dismisses Petition For Websites To Honor ‘Do Not Track’ Requests

<p>Websites won't have to adhere to "Do Not Track" requests after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) <a href="http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2015/db1106/DA-15-1266A1.pdf">dismissed</a> a <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/resources/fccdntpetiton061515.pdf">petition</a>, filed in June by Consumer Watchdog, asked the FCC to require “edge providers” like Google, Facebook, YouTube, Pandora, Netflix, and LinkedIn to honor them.</p>
FCC Turns Aside Pleas That It Enforce “Do Not Track” Requests Against Web Giants

FCC Turns Aside Pleas That It Enforce “Do Not Track” Requests Against Web Giants

<p><b>The agency said it has no authority over Google, Facebook, and other websites and apps</b></p> <p>The Federal Communications Commission has advised privacy seekers to look elsewhere in their quest for someone to enforce "Do Not Track" rules against Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other web giants.</p> <p>Consumer Watchdog, a California advocacy group, had petitioned the agency to enforce the voluntary efforts by websites to abide by consumers' requests that they not be tracked across the Internet.</p>
Google, Facebook ‘Do Not Track’ Requests? FCC Says They Can Keep Ignoring Them

Google, Facebook ‘Do Not Track’ Requests? FCC Says They Can Keep Ignoring Them

<p><strong>US regulator rejects calls for it to force web giants to respect Do Not Track requests from consumers.</strong></p> <p>Google, Facebook, and other internet companies can continue to disregard Do Not Track requests from consumers, without intervention from the US Federal Communications Commission.</p> <p>The US regulator has dismissed a petition from rights group Consumer Watchdog, calling on it to require 'edge providers' such as Google, Facebook, YouTube, Pandora, Netflix, and LinkedIn "to honor 'Do Not Track' Requests from consumers".</p>
FCC Will Not Force ‘Edge Providers’ To Honor ‘Do Not Track’

FCC Will Not Force ‘Edge Providers’ To Honor ‘Do Not Track’

<p>On Friday, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) dismissed a petition – related to the ‘Do Not Track’ feature - filed by California-based consumer advocacy group Consumer Watchdog. The group had requested the agency to order bigwig Internet firms to honor ‘Do Not Track’ signals from the customers’ browsers.</p>
FCC Swats Down Petition For Mandatory Do Not Track Support

FCC Swats Down Petition For Mandatory Do Not Track Support

<p><b>The government says it won’t regulate sites like Google and Facebook. Will ad and tracking blockers do the job instead?</b></p> <section class="page"> <p style=""><span itemprop="articleBody text">The Federal Communications Commission is steering clear of requests to make Do Not Track support mandatory on sites such as Google and Facebook.</span></p>
FCC Won’t Force Websites To Honor ‘Do Not Track’

FCC Won’t Force Websites To Honor ‘Do Not Track’

<p><b>Dismisses June petition from Consumer Watchdog that would have required Facebook, Google and others to respect consumers' Do Not Track wishes</b></p> <p>The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Friday dismissed a petition that would have required some of Web's largest firms, including Facebook, Google and Netflix, to honor "Do Not Track" signals from consumers' browsers.</p>