Tag Archive | "Europe"
Flurry Of Last-Minute Objections to Google Book Project
Consumer advocacy group Consumer Watchdog warned that "if the settlement were approved, it would give Google a default monopoly to books for which the rightsholders cannot be located, resulting in unfair competitive advantages to Google in the search engine, electronic book sales, and other markets."
Continue reading...Microsoft-Yahoo Deal Faces Moderate Antitrust Scrutiny, Say Experts
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Microsoft and Yahoo finally tied the knot, but they signed an expansive pre-nup to limit antitrust scrutiny. Vocal Google critic Consumer Watchdog didn't denounce the deal outright, noting that "some have suggested" that the tie-up may increase competition against Google. But the Microsoft-Yahoo deal is a chance for regulators to "set to the gold standard for privacy guarantees by Internet companies and for the government to use its leverage to obtain it," it said. Consumer Watchdog's John Simpson said the FTC should take a strong lead on privacy matters. "If the result of this deal is that there are two stronger Internet search enterprises who exploit users' data at the expense of their privacy rights, consumers are worse off, not better," he said. "Justice and the FTC can -- and must -- insist on this."
Continue reading...Consumer Advocates Exhort DOJ, FTC To Scrutinize Microsoft-Yahoo Deal
Thursday, July 30, 2009
John Simpson, an advocate with non-profit group Consumer Watchdog, also said the Microhoo deal must be closely scrutinized by the Federal Trade Commission, the Justice Department and the European Commission to ensure that there are no antitrust violations and that user privacy is guaranteed. "If the result of this deal is that there are two stronger Internet search enterprises who exploit users' data at the expense of their privacy rights, consumers are worse off, not better," said Simpson. "Users must have control of their data—whether it is collected and how it is used. Guarantees of that control must be in place before this deal is approved. Justice and the FTC can—and must—insist on this."
Continue reading...Microsoft-Yahoo! Pact Hit With Anti-Trust Question
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Three-Into-Two Doesn't Wash Consumer Watchdog noted the competitive search and advertising landscape will deteriorate - not improve - if the result is two enterprises that exploit users' data at the expense of their privacy rights. John Simpson, an advocate with the group, said the FTC and DoJ must insist users retain control of their data, how it's used, and where its stored. "Users must have control of their data - whether it is collected and how it is used. Guarantees of that control must be in place before this deal is approved. Justice and the FTC can - and must - insist on this," he said in a statement.
Continue reading...Consumer Watchdog Calls On Feds To Get User Privacy And Antitrust Guarantees In Proposed Microsoft-Yahoo! Deal
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Santa Monica CA -- The proposed 10-year partnership on Internet search and search advertising between Microsoft and Yahoo! must be closely scrutinized by the Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department to ensure there are no antitrust violations and that user privacy is guaranteed, Consumer Watchdog said today.
Continue reading...Google Makes a Case That It Isn’t So Big
Monday, June 29, 2009
Eyes are rolling, especially in reaction to the idea that Google is a relatively small player in a giant market. “They describe where they are in a market under a kind of a fairy-tale spun gloss that doesn’t reflect their dominance of key sectors,” said Jeff Chester, executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy. “Google search is an absolute must-have for every marketer in the world.”
Continue reading...Give Google your data or die
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Believe it or not, Google's co-founder Larry Page says that the Internet giant needs to retain your search data more than six months in order to save lives.
Continue reading...ConsumerWatchdog.org: Leaked Google Presentation Meant To Counter Fed Inquiries On Competition
Friday, May 8, 2009
Is Google a monopoly? That question, which is increasingly gaining the attention of regulators in Washington, D.C., is also the subject of an intense public relations war between Google and detractors. Today, a new front was opened up, after a consumer advocacy group released a copy of a Google presentation on Google's business practices, along with critical commentary that casts doubt on Google's claims that it supports competition. The group, ConsumerWatchdog.org, said that the Google presentation is part of a campaign to counter federal inquiries into potentially anticompetitive practices.
Continue reading...How the Wolfram Alpha Search Engine Could Save Google
Friday, May 8, 2009
You can see a copy of a Google PowerPoint to that effect over at Silicon Alley Insider, which got it from Consumer Watchdog. That group had an advertising industry an insider tip them off and give them a rebuttal.
Continue reading...Consumer Group Calls On Google To Offer Zero Personal Data Retention Policy
Friday, December 19, 2008
Seeks Meeting With Chairman Eric Schmidt About Privacy Concerns Santa Monica, CA -- Google should offer users of its search engine the ability to leave no personal data on the Internet giant’s servers, the nonpartisan, nonprofit Consumer Watchdog said today and asked for a meeting with Google’s chairman to discuss the group’s privacy concerns.
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Wednesday, September 9, 2009
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