Privacy

European High Court To Issue Key Privacy Ruling On Tuesday Affecting U.S. Tech Companies

October 5, 2015 · John M. Simpson

The <a href="http://europa.eu/about-eu/institutions-bodies/court-justice/index_en.htm">Court of Justice of the European Union</a> will rule Tuesday on the validity of the <a href="http://www.export.gov/safeharbor/eu/eg_main_018476.asp">U.S.-European Union “Safe <img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2571" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/images_europe_flag.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 136px; float: right;" width="443" height="301" />Harbor” deal </a>covering how Europeans’ personal data can be transferred across the Atlantic by Internet giants like Google and Facebook.

Is There A ‘Right To Be Forgotten?’

October 3, 2015 · Mark Reback

European idea could be spreading When Europe’s highest court ruled last year that citizens have a “right to be forgotten” on the Internet, many legal scholars and privacy advocates doubted the decision would have much impact in the United States, land of the First Amendment. Now they aren’t so sure.

Google Is Making Its Self-Driving Cars More Human-Like

September 30, 2015 · Mark Reback

Jaime Waydo, who heads up engineering for Google’s self-driving cars initiative, says that her team is constantly coming up with new scenarios to try to teach the vehicles safety abilities. The problem that companies like Google are finding out, at least initially, is that autonomous vehicles are a bit too cautious.

Remembering New Age Publishing Pioneer and Friend Jeremy Tarcher

September 29, 2015 · Jamie Court

The following is a tribute to Consumer Watchdog board member Jeremy Tarcher, who passed away recently, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jamie-court/remembering-new-age-publi_b_8215750.html">posted here on The Huffington Post</a>. ---------- I recently received the sad news that my dear friend and publisher Jeremy Tarcher passed away. Few who walked the earth were ever as good a friend, mentor, or advisor as Jeremy.

Will California More Closely Scrutinize Driverless Car Crashes?

September 29, 2015 · Mark Reback

As the number of companies testing self-driving cars on public roads rises, nonprofit Consumer Watchdog says the public should have more information about the crashes those vehicles are getting into.

Google Reportedly Facing FTC Antitrust Investigation Over Android

September 25, 2015 · Mark Reback

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) might again be investigating Google for potentially anticompetitive practices, this time in relation to the company's handling of its Android mobile operating system and related apps. "Two people familiar with the matter" told Bloomberg that the FTC is in the early stages of an antitrust investigation into Google after reaching an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice, which also has the power to enforce regulations on anticompetitive behavior.

Self-driving Cars In Collisions Should Turn Over Data & Video, Police Should Also Take Reports, Says Consumer Watchdog

September 24, 2015 · Mark Reback

Consumer Watchdog is watching out for the safety of other drivers on the road encountering self-driving vehicles in California. The group is following up on our question we asked when the first accidents occurred, “They have cameras on the cars, why don’t they have to show video <a href="http://www.autoconnectedcar.com/2015/03/googles-driverless-cars-should-watch-out-for-consumers-dmv-squirrels/">footage of what happened</a>?” Consumer Watchdog also wants the data to be given to the DMV in cases of accidents and to have police reports filed.

Ethics Expert: ExxonMobil’s Behavior Since Torrance Refinery Blast Is Worse Than Volkswagen’s

September 23, 2015 · Mark Reback

A business ethics expert slammed ExxonMobil’s conduct as more egregious than Volkswagen’s as more allegations surfaced Wednesday about the oil giant’s apparent stonewalling in the face of regulatory scrutiny. Professor Stephen Byars contrasted ExxonMobil’s behavior in the aftermath of a February explosion to revelations that Volkwagen likely falsified emissions data for as many as 11 million diesel vehicles worldwide, sending its stock diving and prompting its CEO to resign.

LA’s Nuclear Secret: Part 2

September 22, 2015 · Mark Reback

When Data Breaks The News

September 15, 2015 · Mark Reback

What guarantees are there that the data gathered by Google's News Lab will be untainted? "There is a real danger in relying too much on information that is curated by an entity that likely has skin in the game," said Consumer Watchdog's John Simpson. Google offers powerful -- and sometimes useful -- tools from which partners can benefit, but they should keep the Internet giant at arm's length."

Op-Ed Commentary: The Right To Bury The (Online) Past

September 13, 2015 · Mark Reback

<div class="intro"> Liza Tucker is a consumer advocate with the nonprofit group Consumer Watchdog.

Governor Signs Santa Monica Assembly Member’s Initiative Bill

September 3, 2015 · Mark Reback

September 3, 2015 -- With no fanfare, Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law on Tuesday a bill co-authored by Santa Monica Assembly member Richard Bloom that raises the filing fee for State ballot initiatives from $200 to $2,000. The original fee was set in 1943. Bay Area Assembly member Evan Low, AB 1100’s other author and like Bloom a Democrat, applauded Brown’s action in a press release. He said the higher fee “will deter frivolous submissions” for the ballot.

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