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Google Settles With Feds, Apologizes (Again) For Buzz Privacy Blunder
John M. Simpson, director of Consumer Watchdog’s Privacy Project, said the FTC should have gone further and actually fined the search giant. “Nothing will completely stop Google from invading users’ privacy until it gets hit where it hurts, its bank accounts,” he said in a statement.
Continue reading...Google, FTC Reach Google Buzz Privacy Settlement
30. March 2011
John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog welcomed the FTC settlement but said Google “needs to be punished and feel pain on its bottom line. Nothing will completely stop Google from invading users’ privacy until it gets hit where it hurts, its bank accounts,” Simpson said.
Continue reading...Is Google’s Book Setback A Win For Consumers?
23. March 2011
Google hasn’t exactly made life easy for itself by already scanning millions of books. John M. Simpson, director of the privacy project for the non-profit California-based Consumer Watchdog group, supports the digitization of the world’s books, but says, “Google’s entire business model is to never ask permission, but to seek forgiveness if necessary. Judge Chin has ruled simply that you can’t take other people’s property and use it without asking.”
Continue reading...Judge Echoes Google Critics In Digital Book Ruling
23. March 2011
“Google has built a monopoly in search, and having a monopoly isn’t necessarily illegal,” said John Simpson, a frequent Google critic who has been following the company’s business practices for the advocacy group Consumer Watchdog. “The question is once you are in a monopoly position, how do you use it? I think Google has repeatedly abused it, and that come out in this decision.”
Continue reading...US Judge Rejects Deal For Google Digital Book Plan
22. March 2011
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.”
Continue reading...Eric Schmidt Closing In On Top Commerce Job?
18. March 2011
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.
Continue reading...Consumer Group: Google CEO Not Good For Commerce Post
17. March 2011
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.
Continue reading...Google’s Tarnished Chrome
11. March 2011
Consumer Watchdog asked House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., to examine Google’s close ties with the Obama administration. It also wants a broader Justice Department investigation of Google along the lines of the years-long antitrust probe of Microsoft, which culminated in a 2002 settlement with the government.
Continue reading...Do Not Track Our Online Data
4. March 2011
The do not track concept is supported across all demographic lines — including political persuasions. According to Consumer Watchdog, 86 percent of Americans want a “Do Not Track” button created. In addition, 70 percent of Facebook members and 52 percent of Google users say they are either “somewhat” or “very concerned about their privacy, according to a recent a recent USA Today poll.
Continue reading...Google Street View Goes Off Road With Tricycle To Capture More Images
1. March 2011
Consumer Watchdog spokesman John Simpson said: “Google continues to push the envelope as far as it can and increasingly intrudes in our lives without asking permission. How long will it be before the Internet giant deploys teams with handheld cameras to photograph places where the trikes can’t go?”
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30. March 2011