Privacy

Citing Privacy Concerns, Airbnb Slams Bill On Short-Term Rentals

April 21, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Popular home-sharing website Airbnb is stepping up its opposition to the first statewide measure aiming to regulate short-term rentals, arguing the proposal would harm consumer privacy.</p> <p>Airbnb has faced scores of regulatory fights on the local level, <a href="http://www.latimes.com/local/politics/la-me-adv-airbnb-politics-20150405-story.html#page=1">including in Los Angeles</a>, but the skirmish over a bill by Sen. Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) marks the first major test for the rapidly-growing company in the state Capitol.</p>

Google and Comcast Lobbying Spending Soars In First Quarter of 2015

April 21, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>Google is under investigation in Europe over allegations it abused its dominance in search, while Comcast is seeking approval to merge with TWC</b></p> <p><a class="u-underline" data-component="auto-linked-tag" data-link-name="auto-linked-tag" href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/google">Google</a> spent a record $5.47m on lobbying during the first quarter of 2015, an increase of 43% from $3.82m in theprevious year, according to figures compiled by non-profit group Consumer Watchdog.</p>

EU Action On Google Marks Divergence With Washington

April 16, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p class="article-abstract">Washington (AFP) - The EU antitrust complaint filed Wednesday against Google represents a sharp divergence with Washington, which dropped a similar investigation two years ago, citing a lack of evidence against the Internet giant.</p> <p>In early 2013, the US Federal Trade Commission said it lacked a legal basis to bring a case against Google on allegations of abusing its dominance in Internet searches, but it won commitments from the tech titan to end its "most troubling" practices.</p>

Consumer Watchdog: The US Should Follow The EU In Scrutinizing Google

April 15, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Consumer Watchdog’s John Simpson has called for regulators in the United States to follow the European Commission in challenging Google’s practices.</p>

EU Alleges Google’s Abuses Hurt Consumers, Innovation

April 15, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<div class="article-body clearfix" style=""> <p>BRUSSELS (AP) — The <a href="http://www.chron.com/search/?action=search&channel=business%2Ftechnology&inlineLink=1&searchindex=gsa&query=%22European+Union%22">European Union</a>'s escalating legal attack on Google is likely to ignite a debate about whether the Internet search leader makes life more convenient for consumers or abuses its power to squeeze out rivals who might have something better to offer.</p>

Biz Break: Google To Face Antitrust Charges In Europe, Reports Say

April 14, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<div id="ppixelP3" style="float:left;"> <div class="ndn_embed ndn_embedding ndn_embedContainer ndn-widget-embed-5 ndn_embedded" data-config-distributor-id="90757" id="ndn-video-player-P3"><span id="mn_Global"><span id="MNGiSection">European Union officials will officially charge Google with illegally abusing its dominant market position in search Wednesday, several news organizations reported Tuesday afternoon.</span></span></div> </div> <div class="articlePosition2" style="width:300px;"> <div class="articleImageBox" style="width:300px"> </div> </div>

Santa Monica Consumer Group Critical of Google’s New Kids’ App

April 9, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>A<span class="timesDatelineBlack">pril 9, 2015</span> -- Santa Monica-based Consumer Watchdog has a bone to pick with Google’s new YouTube Kids app, claiming it violates long-standing advertising safeguards for children.<br /> <br /> According to Google, YouTube Kids is a free app “designed for curious little minds,” offering age-appropriate videos, channels and play lists.</p>

Mercury News Editorial: Google’s YouTube Kids Should Meet TV Ad Standards

April 9, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p class="editorialbodytext"><span id="mn_Global"><span id="MNGiSection">The standards that apply for kids' programming on TV also should be enforced for online products.</span></span></p>

YouTube For Kids Is A Walled Garden Of Inappropriate Commercialism

April 8, 2015  ·  John M. Simpson

<p>You’d think that an app supposedly designed to deliver video to young kids would deliver appropriate child<img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2857" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/images_youtubekids.jpg" style="width: 160px; height: 104px; float: right;" width="160" height="104" /> friendly content and offer things like parental parental control over how long kids can use the app.</p> <p>It would be a sort of walled garden where kids could enjoy online videos without being exposed to the tawdry and seamier side of the Internet.</p>

YouTube Kids App Accused of Deceptive, Excessive Advertising

April 8, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Launched in late February, YouTube Kids, which is available for iOS and Android smartphones and tablets, is designed to let children watch "family friendly" content on mobile devices.</p> <p> </p>

Consumer Groups to Ask F.T.C. to Investigate YouTube Kids App

April 8, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p class="story-body-text" itemprop="articleBody"><img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/OUmMAAPX6E8/0.jpg" /></p> <p class="story-body-text" itemprop="articleBody">Several consumer groups are expected to file a complaint on Tuesday that asks the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Google’s recently released YouTube Kids application, a portal for cartoons and learning shows, arguing that the app mixes ads and programming in ways that are deceptive to children.</p>

Consumer Watchdog: Parents ‘Can’t Trust Google’ With YouTube Kids App

April 8, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Santa Monica advocacy group Consumer Watchdog voiced its concerns over the YouTube Kids app at a news conference Tuesday, calling on parents to "take Google with a large grain of salt."</p> <p>The app "is full of content that is advertising, masquerading often as some sort of story or entertainment," said John Simpson, Consumer Watchdog's privacy project director. </p>