Privacy

California Digital Privacy Laws Boosted, Protecting Consumers From Big Brother, Big Business

October 12, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p class="bodytext"><span id="mn_Global"><span id="MNGiSection">California has leaped to the forefront of protecting digital privacy -- from Big Brother, big business and even your Smart TV -- as Gov. Jerry Brown signed a raft of bills aimed at taming a world of increasingly surreptitious technology.</span></span></p>

California DMV Creates First Public Data Set on Driverless Car Crashes

October 12, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>With the release of nine reports, the California Department of Motor Vehicles has created what is likely the first public data set on driverless car crashes in the U.S.</p>

Markey, Franken And Barton Blast Proposed W3C Do Not Track Standard

October 11, 2015  ·  John M. Simpson

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2908" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/images_donottrackmebutton_5.jpg" style="width: 175px; height: 118px; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 4px; float: right;" width="250" height="168" />Three federal lawmakers have criticized an Internet standards setting organization’s proposed Do Not Track standard because they say it gives an unfair advantage to some companies  and allows them to continue online tracking.</p>

Big Privacy Victory As Gov. Brown Signs CalECPA

October 9, 2015  ·  John M. Simpson

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2906" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/images_searchwarrant.jpg" style="width: 190px; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px; float: right; height: 191px;" width="224" height="225" />Californians won a major privacy victory Thursday that catches protections up with modern technology.  <a _cke_saved_href="https://www.gov.ca.gov/home.php" href="https://www.gov.ca.gov/home.php">Gov.

Consumer Privacy Groups Urge FTC, CFPB Investigation of Experian’s T-Mobile Data Breach

October 9, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

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Good News And News From Consumer Watchdog About Autonomous Cars In CA

October 9, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>The good news is that after much prodding from Consumer Watchdog, the California Department of Motor Vehicles today said it will now post all autonomous vehicle accident reports on its website.</p>

Beyond Fixing Cars What Will Volkswagen Do For Its Customers?

October 8, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Volkswagen's sales pitch captured exactly what Jonathan Lea wanted — a sporty car that logged top fuel economy and was so green the federal government rewarded buyers with a $1,300 tax credit.</p> <p>"It was the total package," Lea said.</p> <p>Now that he knows the truth about the car's pollution, and VW's cheating on emissions tests, he wants the automaker to buy the car back and send it to the scrap heap. His 2009 Jetta TDI has already lost a lot of resale value, and he wants a different — and legitimately green — car.</p>

Experian Hack Raises Doubts About Security Of Credit Database, Advocates Say

October 8, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong>Letter calls for investigation and asks ‘what’s the difference in security measures’ that allowed supposedly limited access to database of 200 million people</strong></p>

Open Letter To San Francisco: Consumer Watchdog Opposes Proposition F On Privacy Grounds

October 7, 2015  ·  John M. Simpson

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2904" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/images_privacyeye.jpg" style="width: 150px; height: 150px; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px; float: right;" width="75" height="75" /></p> <p>A number of San Franciscans have inquired about Consumer Watchdog’s position on Proposition F, which San Francisco voters will consider at the polls this November.  We oppose the measure because it raises serious privacy concerns.</p>

Reaction To EU Safe Harbor Court Decision Floods In

October 7, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<div class="content clearfix"> <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <p>Washington was abuzz Tuesday after a European Union Court of Justice i<a href="http://www.multichannel.com/news/courts/court-invalidates-euus-safe-harbor-data-deal/394319">nvalidated a long-standing safe-harbor agreement</a> for the transfer of EU member data to the U.S.</p>

Facebook Blow As EU Court Quashes Transatlantic Data Deal

October 7, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p class="article-abstract">Luxembourg (AFP) - Facebook and other Internet giants could be barred from sending European citizens' personal information to the US after the EU's top court on Tuesday struck down a key transatlantic data deal in the wake of the Edward Snowden scandal.</p> <p>The landmark verdict stemmed from a case lodged by Austrian law student Max Schrems, who challenged the 2000 "Safe Harbour" agreement between Washington and Brussels on the grounds it did not properly protect European data.</p>

New Verizon Policy Raises Cell Phone Privacy Concerns

October 7, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Have cell phone service through Verizon? You might want to take a look at your privacy settings.</p> <p>Verizon, which recently acquired the advertising giant AOL, <a href="https://www.verizon.com/about/privacy/adprograms/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced this week</a> that starting in November, it's going to start sharing personally identifying information from mobile users "with vendors and partners who do work for us."</p>