Archive | January, 2010
FTC focusing on online privacy concerns
Online privacy protection for consumers has been built around the idea of "notice and choice" but it was clear to me at Thursday’s Federal Trade Commission…
Continue reading...Press Release
Google E-Book Bid Still Under Fire
CONTACT: Wire Reports
29. January 2010
Google’s bid to secure the digital rights to millions of books
remains under attack from rivals and other critics trying to block a
revised legal settlement that would unlock a vast electronic library.
The most strident criticism to the
changes so far has come from the same foes that have spearheaded the
resistance since last summer. The opposing camp includes the Open Book
Alliance, a group including Google rivals Microsoft Corporation, Yahoo
and Amazon.com, as well as Consumer Watchdog, a group that fights abusive business practices.
Press Release
Last-Minute Objections Filed To Google Book Settlement
CONTACT: Chris Lefkow
29. January 2010
and publishers that would allow Google to scan and sell millions of
books online filed a flurry of last-minute objections on Thursday. Consumer Watchdog said "the revised settlement suffers from the same fundamental problems as its predecessor." It
said it notably fails to do enough to protect reader privacy, violates
copyright laws and gives "unfair competitive advantages to Google."
Groups File Briefs In Google Books Case
28. January 2010
Consumer Watchdog urged the court to reject the settlement, saying
it’s anticompetitive and violates U.S. and international law. "This
scheme acts to the disadvantage of absent class members and would
result in unfair competitive advantages to Google in the search engine,
electronic book sales, and other markets, to the detriment of the
public interest. Along the way, the settlement raises significant
international law and privacy concerns," the group said in it’s brief.
Consumer Watchdog Urges Court To Reject Amended Google Books Deal
28. January 2010
Brief Argues Books Settlement Continues Steal From Absent Class Members, Remains Anti-Competitive
WASHINGTON, DC — Consumer Watchdog today filed a brief urging a
federal court to reject the revised Google Books settlement because it
is remains anticompetitive and violates both U.S. and international
law.
Consumers Have A Right To Online Anonymity
28. January 2010
The FTC’s job is make sure that consumers have control of what data
is gathered, how it is used and how long it’s kept. Consumers must
first be able to see what data Google and the other online companies
have accumulated, then delete it if they wish or prevent it from being
gathered in the first place. Control is the key. Google could long ago have offered everyone a
simple "make me anonymous" button. But it’s not likely that Google or
any other company will voluntarily give us that control, because it
endangers their advertising profits.
Google toolbar privacy glitch shows need for tech recalls and rules
27. January 2010
Harvard Professor Ben Edelman has just revealed that Google’s toolbar sent information about consumers’ web activity back to the Internet giant’s servers even when they thought they had disabled the toolbar.
Continue reading...Consumer Watchdog Lauds Clinton’s Call For Open Internet, Stresses Need For Online Consumer Privacy Safeguards
21. January 2010
WASHINGTON, DC — Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s condemnation of
cyber attacks and censorship is an important endorsement of a free
global Internet, but just as important to ensuring the Internet’s
contribution to democracy and economic growth is a commitment to
consumer privacy, Consumer Watchdog said today.
Googling Obama’s China policy
15. January 2010
Google’s ties to the Obama administration are perhaps unrivaled in corporate America, but the Internet giant’s announcement this week that it’s considering pulling out of China because of Chinese censorship and hacker attacks put the White House in a tricky spot. "They like to go around and sing the mantra, ‘Don’t be evil,’" said
John Simpson, a consumer advocate with the nonprofit Consumer Watchdog.
"But they almost always act in what they perceive to be Google’s
interest – and that doesn’t necessarily coincide with that of any
government."
Security Firm Outlines How Attack Against Google Was Pulled Off
15. January 2010
A Silicon Valley Internet security firm on Thursday described for the first time how hackers from China were able to crack Google’s defenses, saying the attackers took advantage of a flaw in Microsoft’s Web browser to probe deeply into the company’s network. In addition to the Google network, the high-profile intrusion also
targeted Gmail accounts in the United States and other countries. This
may prompt users to demand better security for electronic mail and
other personal data that’s stored on Internet clouds, some advocates
say. "The problem up until now is that people like Google have
emphasized speed and efficiency and ease of use," said John M. Simpson,
an advocate with Consumer Watchdog. "In too many cases, they have let
security and privacy become a secondary issue. This situation is a
wake-up call for everybody."
29. January 2010