Privacy

Facebook Changes Tracking Practices — Again

June 20, 2014 · Mark Reback

Facebook users beware: The company has -- yet again -- unilaterally changed its mind about its data collection practices. As users should know, that's not a good thing for their privacy.

Google’s Glass Draws Even More Criticism

June 18, 2014 · John M. Simpson

<img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2784" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/images_250px-geordilaforge.jpg" style="width: 150px; height: 240px; float: right; margin: 2px;" width="130" height="208" />Remember <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geordi_La_Forge">Geordi La Forge?</a> He's the fictional character in Star Trek: The Next Generation who was portrayed by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LeVar_Burton">LeVar Burton</a>. Blind from birth, the helmsman of the USS Enterprise-D wore a "VISOR" (Visual Instrument and Sensory Organ Replacement) in order to "see."

E-mail Privacy Act Could End Warrantless Seizure of E-mails

June 18, 2014 · Mark Reback

<a href="http://www.voiceofrussia.com/us/news/2014_06_19/E-mail-Privacy-Act-Could-End-Warrantless-Seizure-of-E-mails-6300/">Click here to listen/download the podcast of this article</a>.

American Antitrust Institute Also Opposes Comcast-Time Warner Deal

June 17, 2014 · John M. Simpson

<img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2782" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/images_comcasttimewarner.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 111px; float: right;" width="160" height="89" />The prestigious <a href="http://www.antitrustinstitute.org/">American Antitrust Institute</a> is <a href="http://www.antitrustinstitute.org/content/antitrust-experts-urge-enforcers-block-comcast-time-warner-cable-merger">opposing</a> the $45 billion Comcast-Time Warner mega merger because it raises potentially serious problems for competition and consumers.

Consumer Watchdog Joins In Telling Obama Not To Renew NSA Powers

June 17, 2014 · John M. Simpson

Consumer Watchdog has joined the <a href="https://epic.org/">Electronic Privacy Information Center</a> (EPIC) and 25 other organizations <img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2780" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/images_nsaspying.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 131px; float: right; margin: 1px;" width="300" height="197" />in telling President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder not to seek re-authorization of the National Security Agency's bulk telephone record collection.

Watchdog Group Wary of Google’s Driverless Cars

June 17, 2014 · Mark Reback

Santa Monica organization calls on DMV to lengthen testing time frame for road tests of tech giant's fleet A Westside group is calling on California’s Department of Motor Vehicles to slow the rush to get self-driving vehicles on the road, less than a month before residents can begin applying for permits to be test drivers for the cars.

Google’s New Satellites Can Spy On Apple’s Supply Chains, Skybox CEO Says

June 17, 2014 · Mark Reback

Google’s Latest Deal Takes Spying Ability To New Heights

June 16, 2014 · John M. Simpson

Google's latest planned acquisition will will take the Internet giant's ability to spy on us and gather information <img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2778" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/images_googleembedded1_1.jpg" style="width: 225px; height: 158px; float: right;" width="316" height="222" />about our activities to new heights -- literally.

Consumer Watchdog Urges DMV To Require Test Drivers In Google Cars

June 16, 2014 · Mark Reback

<a href="http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/06/16/consumer-watchdog-urges-dmv-to-require-test-drivers-in-google-cars/">Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast</a>. SANTA MONICA (CBSLA.com) — A Westside consumer advocacy group wants the DMV to hit the brakes on putting driverless cars on California roads. KNX 1070′s Megan Goldsby reports Santa Monica-based Consumer Watchdog sent a letter to officials alleging the Google prototypes need at least an extra year of testing or they could pose a deadly risk to drivers.

Tech Report: Insurance Rant

June 16, 2014 · Mark Reback

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — It’s a funny looking frowning face with a red Band Aid as the logo of this online movement. If you haven’t already seen this in your Facebook or Twitter feed, you most likely will soon. This all put on by Consumer Watchdog, a heavy hitter in consumer advocacy. The group runs the “<a href="http://yourhealthinsurancecompanysuckswhen.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">yourhealthinsurancecompanysuckswhen.org</a>” website, Facebook page, and Twitter account.

Watchdog: Google’s Driverless Cars Need More Testing

June 12, 2014 · Mark Reback

Consumer Watchdog has warned the California Department of Motor Vehicles not to give into pressure from Google and others with an interest in developing autonomous vehicles to rush to adopt regulations for the public use of the vehicles that are not ready to protect our safety.

Google’s Driverless Car Will Need More Testing, Watchdog Group Warns

June 10, 2014 · Mark Reback

A consumer group wants the California Department of Motor Vehicles to slow Google’s rush to get driverless cars on the road. Consumer Watchdog said the state’s regulations don’t allow enough time to test the self-driving cars before allowing them on California streets and highways. “We urge the DMV to follow a sensible and deliberate approach that would require adequate testing and time to analyze the test results,” wrote John M. Simpson, Consumer Watchdog’s Privacy Project director, in a letter to DMV Director Jean Shiomoto.

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