Inside Google

Google Must Allow U.S. Users To Be Forgotten

John M. Simpson

Google today began removing some search results in Europe under the recently court-upheld “right to be forgotten.” The Internet giant should offer U.S. users the same basic right to privacy.

Google’s Latest Deal Takes Spying Ability To New Heights

John M. Simpson

 Google’s latest planned acquisition will will take the Internet giant’s ability to spy on us and gather informationabout our activities to new heights — literally. Last week Google said it would buy Skybox Imaging for $500 million, chump change for a company that is sitting on around $61 billion in cash. Skybox is building low […]

Glassholes Meet Up At West Hollywood Bar

John M. Simpson

Google’s privacy invading wearable computing device, Glass, has been taking a lot of well deserved hits lately, and the Internet giant seems to have launched a PR campaign to bolster the device’s plummeting image. Over the weekend Google sponsored “Glass Night Out” at various locations across the country.

Tech Titans’ Dirty Linen Won’t Be Aired Further

John M. Simpson

A settlement has been reached in the $3 billion class action lawsuit on behalf of 64,000 high tech workers who charged that Silicon Valley tech titans like Steve Jobs, Eric Schmidt and Sergey Brin illegally conspired to keep their wages down.

Google Ending Privacy Breach Consumer Watchdog Targeted In FTC Complaint

John M. Simpson

Google apparently is ending an egregious privacy breach involving people who buy apps from its Google Play store using Google Wallet to pay. Consumer Watchdog filed a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission with a copy to California Attorney General Kamala Harris about what Google was doing. The complaint alleged that the Internet giant was violating its privacy policies and its “Buzz” consent agreement with the FTC.

Press Release

EU’s Google Antitrust Deal Beats FTC, But Still Doesn’t Do Enough

CONTACT: John M. Simpson

Details of Google’s proposed settlement with the European Union to avoid antitrust charges have been leaking out of Brussels over the weekend. And while EU competition authorities appear to have accomplished more that the gentle tap on the wrist meted out by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, the deal as so far revealed doesn’t do enough to end Google’s anti-competitive practices.

Google’s Privacy Chief Is Stepping Down

John M. Simpson

Google’s privacy chief, Alma Whitten, is stepping down the Internet giant confirmed Monday. Since word of her departure came out on April Fools’ Day many folks probably thought this was part of the company’s annual elaborate pranks like its “announcement” of a new service called “Google Nose.”

Press Release

Did The FTC Find Its Spine In Google Probe? We Need To Keep The Pressure On

CONTACT: John M. Simpson

Last weekend news broke that the Federal Trade Commission was about to settle its two-year antitrust investigation of Google with what charitably could be termed a slight tap on the wrist. But by Tuesday night the reported holiday gift to the Internet giant was unraveling and the FTC signaled it would keep the investigation going into January. So what’s behind the Commission’s new found spine? Is it real? Will it last?

Press Release

Google Gets Antitrust Ultimatum From FTC

CONTACT: John M. Simpson

Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz has given Google what Bloomberg News Service describes as an ultimatum to settle the agency’s antitrust investigation in the next few days or face a lawsuit.

Get Real Sergey, But Here’s How You Could Actually Help

John M. Simpson

Sergey Brin, Google’s co-founder, is getting a little bit of ink for his suggestion that all politicians elected today quit their parties and “govern as independents in name and in spirit.”