Inside Google

Consumer Watchdog Praises Judge For Blocking Google Books Deal

John M. Simpson

Decision Sends Message Google Must Ask Permission Before Using Others’ Property

SANTA MONICA, CA — Consumer Watchdog praised Federal Judge Denny Chin today for rejecting the Google Books settlement and added that Google should finally learn it cannot usurp and exploit other people’s work and information without first asking permission. The decision also raised serious antitrust issues, the nonpartisan, nonprofit group noted.

US Judge Rejects Deal For Google Digital Book Plan

Charlotte Raab

John Simpson of settlement opponent Consumer Watchdog said the ruling “should send the message to the engineers at the Googleplex that the next time they want to use someone’s intellectual property, they need to ask permission.”

France Fines Google Over Wi-Spy

John M. Simpson

France’s privacy watchdog has just fined Google 100,000 euros ($142,000) as a result of the Internet giant’s Wi-Spy activities. It may not be a lot to a company whose worldwide annual sales are around $25 billion a year, but it’s the biggest fine the regulator has issued.

Eric Schmidt Closing In On Top Commerce Job?

Hayley Tsukayama

Consumer Watchdog, well-known for its opposition of Google — and Schmidt in particular — issued a release Thursday in opposition to a possible appointment. The group also sent a letter to Obama asking him not to nominate Schmidt for the position. “Putting Eric Schmidt in charge of policing online privacy is like appointing Bernie Madoff to direct the Securities Exchange Commission,” the release said.

Consumer Group: Google CEO Not Good For Commerce Post

Gautham Nagesh

Frequent Google critic Consumer Watchdog sent a letter to the White House on Thursday blasting reports that outgoing Google chief executive Eric Schmidt is being considered to replace Commerce Secretary Gary Locke.

Consumer Watchdog To President Obama: Tapping Google CEO For Commerce Secretary, Obama’s Voice On Privacy, Is Like Appointing Madoff To Head SEC

Jamie Court

Washington, DC — Consumer Watchdog warned President Obama in a letter today about the dire consequences for consumers worldwide of appointing Google CEO Eric Schmidt Commerce Secretary.

Cause For Concern About Washington’s Privacy Drive

John M. Simpson

The Obama Administration threw its weight behind privacy legislation Wednesday as Assistant Commerce Secretary Lawrence Strickling testified before the Senate Commerce Committee about online privacy. Clearly Washington is focusing on privacy issues, but will meaningful consumer protections be enacted? There is cause for concern.

Google Feels Heat On Shady Ads

John M. Simpson

It took a lawsuit from Rosetta Stone, the language software company, and a Congressional hearing, but Google apparently has finally been embarrassed into taking responsibility for policing some shady ads on its search engine site.

Consumer Groups Warn Obama Privacy Law Could Be Dominated By Industry

John M. Simpson

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A “multi-stakeholder process” to develop online privacy codes advocated today by the Obama Administration runs the risk of being dominated by industry and failing to protect consumers if it is not organized in a fair and balanced manner, six public interest groups warned. The groups include Consumer Watchdog, The Center for Digital Democracy, Consumer Federation of America, Consumer Action, U.S. PIRG and the World Privacy Forum.

Google Faces More Washington Scrutiny

John M. Simpson

The Senate Antitrust Subcommittee plan to examine Google’s activities for possible antitrust violations, is the latest indication that the Internet giant’s behavior is drawing increasingly skeptical — and well deserved — scrutiny in the nation’s capital.