Inside Google

Consumer Watchdog Praises Attorneys General For Google Probe, Renews Call for Congressional Hearing on Wi-Spy Scandal

John M. Simpson

Santa Monica, CA — Consumer Watchdog today praised a group of 37 state attorneys general for seeking to get to the bottom of the Google Wi-Spy scandal and reiterated its call for the House Energy and Commerce Committee to hold hearings on the issue.

Google’s Lobbying Spending Soars 41 Percent to $1.34 Million While Internet Giant Relies On Well-Connected Team

John M. Simpson

WASHINGTON, DC — Google spent $1.34 million trying to influence federal lawmakers and regulators in the second quarter of 2010, a 41 percent increase over $950,000 in the same period a year ago, Consumer Watchdog said today. Besides its willingness to spend, a key to Google’s lobbying effort is its well-connected Washington staff, most of whom have worked for Congress or the executive branch, said the nonpartisan, nonprofit public interest group.

Google’s Wi-Spying And Intelligence Ties Prompt Call For Congressional Hearing

John M. Simpson

SANTA MONICA, CA — Citing new information about Google’s classified government contracts and the Internet giant’s admitted Wi-Spying activity, Consumer Watchdog today said it is more imperative than ever for the Energy and Commerce Committee to conduct hearings into possible privacy violations by Google.

Google WiSpying Hit Congress; National Security Data Could Have Been Gathered

John M. Simpson

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Google’s WiSpy snooping could have sucked up and recorded communications from members of Congress, some of whom are involved in national security issues, an investigation by Consumer Watchdog’s InsideGoogle.com has found.

Consumer Watchdog Backs Call for Congressional Hearing on Google’s WiSpy Snooping

John M. Simpson

SANTA MONICA, CA — Consumer Watchdog today praised three Congressmen for releasing Google’s purported explanation of its three-year WiSpy snooping and endorsed a call for a Congressional hearing about the incident. Consumer Watchdog also called for the Federal Communications Commission to investigate.

Ten Privacy and Consumer Groups Ask Congressional Leaders to Strengthen Privacy Bill

John M. Simpson

In response to a discussion draft of a new privacy bill currently under consideration by the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet, ten leading privacy and consumer organizations today called for much stronger provisions to protect consumer privacy both online and off.

Consumer Groups Call on FTC to Investigate Latest Google Ad Company Purchase

John M. Simpson

Consumer Watchdog and the Center for Digital Democracy today called on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Google’s announced plan to buy Invite Media, a display advertising company, for around $70 million, saying the deal raises substantial competitive and privacy concerns.

Press Release

Google using search engine to muscle into Internet businesses, study finds

CONTACT: John M. Simpson

Google has been using its dominant position in online search to muscle its way into other Internet businesses, ultimately limiting consumer choice, Consumer Watchdog said today in a report written for its new Inside Google Website.

Consumer Watchdog Urges State Attorneys General To Probe Google’s WiSpy Snooping

John M. Simpson

Consumer Watchdog today called on the state attorneys general to investigate Google’s WiSpy snooping in their respective states to determine what state laws were broken.

Google’s Economic Report Is Self-Serving Hype, Consumer Watchdog Says

John M. Simpson

“This is what every big corporation does when they are under fire,” said John M. Simpson, consumer advocate with the nonpartisan, nonprofit group. “They divert attention from their wrongdoing and spin a story about their contributions.”