Privacy

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

September 30, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>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 <em>too</em> cautious.</p>

Will California More Closely Scrutinize Driverless Car Crashes?

September 29, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>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.</b></p>

Remembering New Age Publishing Pioneer and Friend Jeremy Tarcher

September 29, 2015  ·  Jamie Court

<p>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>.</p> <p>----------</p> <p>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.</p>

Google Reportedly Facing FTC Antitrust Investigation Over Android

September 25, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>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.</p> <p>"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.</p>

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

September 24, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>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.</p>

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

September 23, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>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.</p> <p>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.</p>

LA’s Nuclear Secret: Part 2

September 22, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p><script type="text/javascript" charset="UTF-8" src="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/portableplayer/?cmsID=328775541&videoID=K2yRvhLC8hgY&origin=nbclosangeles.com&sec=investigations&subsec=&width=600&height=360"></script></p> <p><b>The Santa Susana Field Laboratory, tucked in the hills between the San Fernando and Simi valleys, might be putting the health of thousands of Los Angeles and Ventura County residents at risk</b></p>

When Data Breaks The News

September 15, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong>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."</strong></p>

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

September 13, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

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

Governor Signs Santa Monica Assembly Member’s Initiative Bill

September 3, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p><span class="timesDatelineBlack">September 3, 2015</span> -- 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.</p> <p>The original fee was set in 1943.</p> <p>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.</p>

Governor Signs Election Bills

September 2, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong>One aims to ward off problematic ballot measures by raising the cost of filing</strong></p> <p>Gov. Jerry Brown signed 14 bills into law Tuesday, including measures that will increase the cost of filing a proposed ballot initiative from $200 to $2,000 and align city elections with statewide votes in areas of low participation.</p>

Hotels Fight Back Against Sites Like Expedia and Priceline

September 1, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="158" data-total-count="158" id="story-continues-1" itemprop="articleBody">For years, travelers have been drawn to online sites like <a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/companies/expedia-inc/index.html?inline=nyt-org" title="More information about Expedia Inc">Expedia</a>, Travelocity, <a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/companies/orbitz-worldwide-inc/index.html?inline=nyt-org" title="More information about Orbitz Worldwide Inc">Orbitz</a> and Priceline to find and reserve hotel rooms, flights and rental