Inside Google

Press Release

LIVE BLOG: The Monopoly Question

CONTACT: Jefferson Morley

“What is Google doing wrong?” Virginia-based consultant and blogger Scott Cleland asked the Consumer Watchdog conference today. “They’re a nice company and competition is just one click away.” It is a common enough question which Cleland answered himself with a metaphor that poker players will appreciate. “Google deals itself Aces that are hidden in its […]

FTC Endorses “Do Not Track Me,” Calls For A New Privacy Framework

Jamie Court

If you wonder if you are being followed online and if anything can be done about it, take a look at the just-out Federal Trade Commission report on online privacy. A frightening amount of information is available about us online and the Federal Trade Commission has endorsed the notion of a “privacy by design” build-in for […]

LIVE BLOG: Do Not Track, The Browser Solution

Jefferson Morley

In the first session of CW conference on online consumer protection, panelist Chris Soghoian, a privacy technologist, identified one key to the success of “Do Not Track” legislation: a browser-based solution. “Remember almost all browsers are supported by ad networks,” Soghoian reminded the audience at the National Press Club. “Internet Explorer was created by Microsoft […]

Google gets blurred in Germany

Jefferson Morley

There are fears, oft-discounted but still harbored by at least one Israeli intelligence official, that terrorists might use Google Street View to plan terrorist attacks. If so, Google’s offices in Munich are safer today, because they are blurred in Google Street View, according to CNET’s Technically Incorrect.

FBI at the backdoor to the Internet

Jefferson Morley

The Obama administration is advancing plans for strengthening the federal government’s ability to monitor the Internet.

Press Release

Hard-coding bias in Google “algorithmic” search results

CONTACT: Ben Edelman

Google tells the public its results have “no manual intervention” and result “solely” from “completely automated” “computer algorithms” that “reflect the popular opinion of the Web” “completely objectively”. It’s a lofty promise, but is it true?

What does Rep. Boucher’s fall mean for Internet privacy and Google?

John M. Simpson

People who worry about online privacy and the intrusive practices of Internet companies like Google and Facebook are trying to figure out the impact of the election. One victim of the Republican juggernaut was a key Internet policy player, Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Va. I don’t think his fall will slow the mounting drive to protect privacy. It will, however, mean one less pair of friendly ears on the Hill where Google lobbyists can whisper their policy goals.

Google dodges two bullets as Wi-Spy questions linger

Glenn Simpson

Google’s success at forging non-adversarial relationships with government regulators in the Anglo-American world is paying dividends for the Internet giant. Wednesday the British information commissioner in London declined to fine the Internet company for privacy violations in the United Kingdom for its Wi-Spying activities.

Google needs Chief Privacy Officer

John M. Simpson

Google can to take one simple step to show that it cares about consumers’ privacy. The Internet giant simply needs to appoint a Chief Privacy Officer. Instead, in it’s latest bit of PR spin Google as it tried to deal with the fallout from the Wi-Spy scandal, the company has muddied the water with an executive structure that virtually assures to confuse and will ultimately fail.

Press Release

The monopoly question just won’t go away

CONTACT: Glenn Simpson

Google’s efforts to expand its search advertising business into the online travel sector now faces the combined opposition of its competitors. The campaign against Google is another reminder that policy decisions in Washington are crucial to the company’s efforts to expand beyond its search advertising business which still provides 97 percent of its revenue.