Privacy

Election 2014: Low Turnout — But Huge Cost — For Last Year’s Ballot Measures

February 4, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p class="bodytext"><span id="default"><span id="MNGiSection">SACRAMENTO -- Last November's election was a sleepy, low-turnout affair, but don't think it wasn't costly: The health and insurance industries spent about $114 million to kill a pair of ballot measures that would have hurt their bottom lines -- and, they say, patients and consumers.</span></span></p>

Verizon Wireless to Allow Complete Opt Out of Mobile ‘Supercookies’

January 30, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p class="story-body-text" itemprop="articleBody">Verizon Wireless, which has been under fire by privacy advocates since late last year, has decided to make a major revision to its mobile ad-targeting program. Users who do not want to be tracked with an identifier that Verizon uses for ad-targeting purposes will soon be able to completely opt out, the company said on Friday.</p>

Exide Battery Plant Cited For Hazardous Waste Violations

January 28, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Exide Technologies is in trouble again with state environmental regulators who on Wednesday cited the Vernon battery recycler for eight hazardous-waste violations.</p> <p>Inspections last week by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control found the lead-acid battery recycling plant was treating and storing contaminated sludge in unauthorized tanks that lacked an adequate containment system to prevent spills.</p>

Barriers to Passing Federal Breach Notification Bill

January 27, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>Congressional Hearing Highlights the Difficulties</b></p> <p>Despite bipartisan rhetoric, comments from lawmakers and witnesses at a House hearing Jan. 27 illustrate why reaching a consensus on a national data breach notification law remains a challenge.</p> <p>Remarks made at the hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade outlined three major obstacles Congress and President Obama must surmount to enact a national <a href="http://www.bankinfosecurity.com/notification-c-327"><b>data breach notification</b></a> law:</p>

PRIVACY ADVOCATES LAY OUT THEIR NET NEUTRALITY PLAN

January 26, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>In a new letter to the FCC today, Consumer Watchdog points to the parts of Title II that it wants in place to ensure consumer privacy protections. While some argue that the FCC can reclassify and then forbear from everything but a few sections of the law — specifically Sections 201, 202 and 208 — that strategy “would be a serious error because it would leave the Commission no ability to offer regulations key to protecting consumers and furthering U.S. communications policy in other important areas,” the group writes.

Google To Add Mobile Carrier Hat To Its Collection

January 23, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>Google's MVNO plans could lead to a lot of benefits -- more advertising real estate for Google, lower prices for consumers, additional revenue for Sprint and T-Mobile -- but there's a downside. Google "presumably would have access to data about who people called, when they did it, and how long the call lasted ... which would raise serious privacy concerns," said Consumer Watchdog's John Simpson.</b></p> <p> </p>

Google Spent Record Cash Lobbying Congress in 2014 – Report … As Did Apple, Amazon & Facebook

January 22, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Google poured a record amount of cash into lobbying the US Federal Government last year, outspending its tech rivals and even the major telecommunications companies, a nonprofit group has found.</p> <p>According to advocacy group Consumer Watchdog, <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/newsrelease/google-spends-record-1683-million-2014-lobbying-topping-15-tech-and-communications-compa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Google spent US$16.83m</a> on lobbying in 2014, a 20 per cent year-on-year increase and the most it has ever put up in a single calendar year.</p>

Google, Facebook, Apple Spent Record Amounts On Lobbying In 2014

January 22, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>As many others cut back, a new breed of tech company doubled down on influencing Washington</b></p> <div id="drr-container" itemprop="articleBody"> <p style="">The tech industry's most influential companies spent record amounts of money on federal lobbying in 2014 despite a general drop in lobbying by most tech companies. The spending was often directed at areas away from the central business of technology, and it indicates how diverse and powerful major tech companies are becoming.</p>

Google’s Record Spend To Keep Net Neutral

January 22, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p class="first" id="yui_3_9_1_1_1421959094163_1303">Google has spent a record amount on Washington lobbyists as it pushes to maintain net neutrality.</p> <p>The search and advertising giant spent $16.8m (£11m) in 2014 - the most it has ever shelled out on DC influencers.</p> <p>Some US telecoms companies are pushing to get rid of net neutrality, which is the legal principle that all internet traffic should be treated equally.</p>

Google Spends $16.83M on Lobbying: Consumer Watchdog

January 21, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong>Record Amount Tops All Tech Companies for 2014</strong></p> <p>Google spent a record $16.83 million on lobbying last year, barely edging out Comcast's $16.8 million, in efforts to influence policy decisions, according to records filed with the Clerk of the House, according to the nonpartisan public interest group Consumer Watchdog.</p>

Google Spent Even More on Lobbying Than Comcast in 2014

January 21, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>Outspent the cable giant currently seeking approval for a merger</b></p> <p>Google’s influence is increasingly being felt in Washington, according to a corporate spending watchdog.</p>

Google Outspends Other Tech Firms In Federal Lobbying

January 21, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Google spent a record $16.83 million on lobbying to influence federal regulators and lawmakers in 2014, just beating out Comcast to be No. 1 in lobbying spending among the nation's 15 biggest tech and communications companies.</p>