Archive | May, 2010
Google Cars Pulled After Privacy “Mistake”
One of Google’s most outspoken critics is Consumer Watchdog; and, after this latest news, it is renewing its call for a regulatory crackdown on the company.
Continue reading...Google’s WiFi Snoop – Who Knew and Who Didn’t?
17. May 2010
“The FTC needs to ask what did Google know and when did Google know it,” says John Simpson. “Google’s suggestion for a third-party audit is inadequate…That would be like like getting to pick and pay the referees in a championship basketball game. This investigation must be done by a regulatory authority capable of imposing real sanctions.”
Continue reading...Consumer Watchdog Calls on FTC to Investigate Google’s WiFi Snooping
17. May 2010
Consumer Watchdog today called on the Federal Trade Commission to launch an immediate probe of Google’s snooping on private WiFi networks as the Internet giant sent its Street View cars to gather information.
Continue reading...Watchdog Blasts Google Over Data Collection Mistake
17. May 2010
“Once again Google has demonstrated a lack of concern for privacy,” Consumer Watchdog Consumer Advocate John M. Simpson said in a statement. “Its computer engineers run amok, push the envelope and gather whatever data they can until their fingers are caught in the cookie jar. Then a Google executive apologizes, mouthing bafflegab about how privacy matters to the company.”
Continue reading...Google Acknowledges Collecting Snippets of People’s Online Activities Broadcast Over Wi-Fi
17. May 2010
Consumer Watchdog, a group that has become one of Google’s most outspoken critics, renewed its call for a regulatory crackdown Friday. “Once again, Google has demonstrated a lack of concern for privacy,” said Consumer Watchdog’s John Simpson. “Its computer engineers run amok, push the envelope and gather whatever data they can until their fingers are caught in the cookie jar.”
Continue reading...FTC Asked to Investigate Google Wi-Fi ‘Snooping’
17. May 2010
Consumer Watchdog says the FTC should find out exactly what Google logged, how long it collected the information and what it ended up doing with it. “Google has demonstrated a history of pushing the envelope and then apologizing when its overreach is discovered,” the group said Monday in a press release. “Given its recent record of privacy abuses, there is absolutely no reason to trust anything the Internet giant claims about its data collection policies.”
Continue reading...Google’s Eric Schmidt Sheds Light On Security, Search, AdMob, China
17. May 2010
Google could announce this week that it will move SSL encryption implemented in Gmail to other services such as search. During the company’s annual shareholders meeting a question on this from John Simpson, an investor who works for Consumer Watchdog, prompted a curt “Do you get the drift of the answer?” from Google chief executive officer Eric Schmidt after Google vice president of search Marissa Mayer replied “stay tuned.” Encryption has moved to the forefront after Google’s admission last week it had collected small pieces of private information people sent through unencrypted wireless networks.
Continue reading...Germans incensed by Google’s WiFi snooping on personal data; activity called illegal
17. May 2010
Germany’s Consumer Affairs Minister Ilse Aigner blasted Google over the weekend for its “accidental” collection of personal data by Street View cars driving by the homes of citizens in Germany (and the U.S. and other countries all around the world).
Continue reading...Google Collecting Personal WiFi Data By Mistake
15. May 2010
John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog, an advocacy group that is a frequent critic of Google, said the company had demonstrated a “lack of concern for privacy. Its computer engineers run amok, push the envelope and gather whatever data they can until their fingers are caught in the cookie jar,” Simpson said. “The takeaway from this incident is the clear need for government oversight and regulation of the data all online companies gather and store,” he said.
Continue reading...Google Apologizes Over Wi-Fi Data Collection
15. May 2010
John Simpson from the Consumer Watchdog has said that appropriate government agencies must now ensure the data is appropriately deleted. “Once again Google has demonstrated a lack of concern for privacy,” said Mr Simpson. “Its computer engineers run amok, push the envelope and gather whatever data they can until their fingers are caught in the cookie jar. Then a Google executive apologizes, mouthing bafflegab about how privacy matters to the company. “The takeaway from this incident is the clear need for government oversight and regulation of the data all online companies gather and store,” he added.
Continue reading...
18. May 2010