Inside Google

Privacy Concerns Raised Over California “Robot Car” Legislation

John Brandon

A consumer advocacy organization warns that the cars could do more than that, collecting personal information that could be shared with others, and is asking for a gubernatorial veto of the bill approving them, which was passed by the state legislature in August. “The California autonomous car legislation does not provide adequate privacy protection,” says Consumer Watchdog spokesperson John Simpson. “Data should be gathered and retained only as long as necessary to operate the vehicle. The consumer must opt in if it is used for any other purpose.”

Consumer Watchdog Chases Google’s Autonomous Car

Richard Read

Autonomous cars are a hot topic of conversation nowadays. Fans of the status quo see them as a waste of time. Driving enthusiasts see them as the harbinger of a boring, 55 mph future. And politicians see them as high-tech boogeymen to scare seniors into voting booths. (NB: that tactic didn’t work.) Now, another group voiced its criticism — specifically against Google’s autonomous car: the aptly but obviously named Consumer Watchdog group, based in Santa Monica, California.

Consumer Watchdog Urges Gov. Brown To Veto Google’s Driverless Car Bill

John M. Simpson

Public Interest Group Terms Privacy Protections For New Technology Insufficient

SANTA MONICA, CA – California Gov. Jerry Brown should veto a bill that allows Google’s driverless cars on the highway because it does not provide adequate privacy protections for users of the new technology, Consumer Watchdog said today.

How Google Will Change Your Life

Jeff Beer

John Simpson is a former executive editor at Tribune Media and deputy editor of USA Today, now heading up Consumer Watchdog’s Inside Google project that focuses on the company’s dominance over the Internet. “We are not Google’s customers,” says Simpson. “We’re Google’s product. We use their services, that are now all combined, creating a digital dossier on us that becomes the real product offered to advertisers.”

Judge Allows Challenge To Google Privacy Penalty

Juliana Gruenwald

A federal judge has allowed a public interest group to challenge a $22.5 million fine Google agreed to pay earlier this month to settle allegations that it violated a consent decree it reached last year with the Federal Trade Commission related to violations of its privacy policies.

Google, FTC Settlement Can Face Consumer Group Challenge

Sara Forden

A public interest group won the right to oppose a $22.5 million consumer lawsuit settlement between the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and Google Inc. over a privacy breach of Apple Inc.’s Safari browser.

Privacy Warriors Win Right To Fight Google’s Itty-Bitty FTC Payout

Kelly Fiveash

Opposition to Google’s $22.5m privacy blunder settlement with the US Federal Trade Commission is heating up: lobby group Consumer Watchdog confirmed today it has won the right to file a brief against the deal.

Consumer Watchdog Can File Against Google’s $22.5M FTC Settlement

Rachel King

A federal judge returned with a brief order on Tuesday that allows Consumer Watchdog to oppose Google’s $22.5 million settlement with the Federal Trade Commission.

Judge Allows Group To Oppose FTC Settlement With Google

Grant Gross

A judge has allowed privacy group Consumer Watchdog to move forward with an effort to oppose a US$22.5 million privacy settlement between Google and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

Challenge To FTC, Google Settlement

Hayley Tsukayama

Consumer Watchdog has won the right to oppose the Federal Trade Commission’s $22.5 billion challenge to a settlement with Google on privacy matters, the group said Wednesday.