Privacy

Google Surpasses Comcast As Top Tech Lobbyist

January 21, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p><span style="font-size: small">Google spent a record $16.83 million last year and surpassed cable and telecom giant Comcast for the first time in lobbying the federal government, according to a new Consumer Watchdog report analyzing records filed by big tech and communications companies with the <a href="http://disclosures.house.gov/ld/ldsearch.aspx">Clerk of the House</a>.</span></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 Pulls The Shades On Glass; Fadell To Lead Future Development

January 16, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p class="p1" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 10px; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 18px; line-height: 25px;">Google Glass <a href="http://www.cnet.com/news/seattle-dive-bar-becomes-first-to-ban-google-glass/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(63, 100, 126); background-position: 0px 0px;">blacklisters</a>, <a href="http://gawker.com/woman-robbed-at-punk-bar-by-wanker-google-glass-haters-1531450047" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(63, 100, 126); background-position: 0px 0px;">haters</a> and <a href="htt

From ‘Glassholes’ to Privacy Issues: The Troubled Run of the First Edition of Google Glass

January 16, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p itemprop="articleBody" style="margin-bottom: 22px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: proxima-nova, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">Watch the video of this TV news segment here: <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/glassholes-privacy-issues-troubled-run-edition-google-glass/story?id=28269049">http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/glassholes-privacy-issues-troubled-run-edition-google-glass/story?id=28269049</a></p>

Google Halts Sales Of Google Glass… For Now

January 15, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<h3 itemprop="alternativeHeadline">Glass 2.0 will be developed outside the limelight</h3> <p>Google is halting sales of its controversial Google Glass, saying it wants to develop the next version outside the harsh glare of publicity. The first version of the wearable, voice-activated device was slammed by privacy advocates.</p> <p>Consumer Watchdog -- a California non-profit -- said Google should not offer a new version until the privacy issues are resolved.</p>

Consumer Watchdog Welcomes Death Of Google Glass, Says Internet Giant Should Not Offer Glass 2.0 until privacy issues are solved

January 15, 2015  ·  John M. Simpson

Consumer Watchdog today welcomed Google’s announcement that it would stop selling Google Glass

Obama Proposes Law For Online Privacy

January 13, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>In the run-up to next week’s State of the Union address, President Obama on Monday called for <a class="a" href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/01/12/fact-sheet-safeguarding-american-consumers-families" target="_blank" rel="noopener">major federal legislation</a> to protect Americans’ online privacy.</p>

Obama’s Breach Notification Plan Lacks Specifics

January 13, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<h3>A Big 'But' on Endorsements for Initiative</h3> <p>President Obama's call for enactment of a national data breach notification law has been widely welcomed by business groups and privacy advocates, but their endorsements come with a big proviso: What's in it? The White House hasn't provided details, yet.</p>

L.A.’s Reluctance To Vote By Mail Hurting Candidates, Causes

January 12, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>For California <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/search/?action=search&channel=politics&inlineLink=1&searchindex=gsa&query=%22Democrats%22">Democrats</a>, sprawling Los Angeles County is the scary-looking guard dog that just won’t bark.</p> <p>In November’s election, California’s largest county was dead last in turnout, with just over 31 percent of registered voters casting ballots. And even that dismal number was a huge improvement from the June primary, when Los Angeles County turnout was 16.9 percent — also the lowest in the state.</p>

Consumer Group Wants To Know: Who Are Bob Hertzberg’s Clients?

January 12, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<div id="content-body-713359-6141849"> <p>Sen. Bob Hertzberg took an unusual step shortly after being elected to the California Senate in November, announcing he would <a href="http://www.glaserweil.com/index.php/page/attorneys/robert-hertzberg" target="_blank" title="" rel="noopener">moonlight as an attorney </a>at a Los Angeles law firm while serving as a full-time legislator.</p>

DMA Supports White House’s Push For Data-Breach Law

January 12, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>President Obama's call for a national data breach notification law is being cheered by the Direct Marketing Association, which has long lobbied for a national standard.</p> <p>“DMA agrees with President Obama that the time has come to replace the patchwork of state laws,” Peggy Hudson, DMA’s senior vice president of government affairs, said in a statement issued on Monday evening. She added that the various state laws confuse consumers and create “burdensome compliance costs for business.”</p>

A Flurry of Varying Cellphone Offers Sows Confusion Among Consumers

December 26, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="360" data-total-count="360" id="story-continues-1" itemprop="articleBody">SAN FRANCISCO — One wireless phone plan allows customers to upgrade to a new phone in less than two years. Another allows a pool of data to be shared across multiple devices. Yet another offers unlimited data, but only at slower Internet speeds. All these perks are there for the taking, yet the average wireless phone bill continues with its monthly sting.</p>