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Google Touts Economic Impact of $645M for Utah — Internet Giant Brushes Aside Critic of Its Motives
The announcement drew an immediate response from a nonprofit consumer-advocacy organization, Consumer Watchdog. The group said Google’s motives in releasing the report were driven by “its attempts to quell worldwide outrage over the WiSpy scandal” and that this is “classic corporate PR spin to divert justified criticism.”
Continue reading...Google Events Offer a Defense to Criticism
25. May 2010
At least one vocal critic of the company said the report overstates Google’s contributions. The company didn’t generate this economic activity so much as facilitate it, said John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog. There were other businesses that connected companies with customers before Google was founded 12 years ago, and the report failed to take into account lost revenue and jobs within those industries, notably media and advertising, he said.
Continue reading...Google: $14.1B Generated in California, $54B in Nation in 2009; Consumer Group Scoffs
25. May 2010
Consumer Watchdog said Google’s economic report relies on cooked accounting that only counts benefits while factoring in none of the costs Google places on society.
Continue reading...Straus Seeks State Probe Into Google Data Capture
25. May 2010
The data collection could extend to about 30 countries, said John M. Simpson, a consumer advocate with Consumer Watchdog, a nonprofit group that has called on the Federal Trade Commission to probe Google’s actions. Simpson said he has not heard of any state attorneys general taking up the matter yet, but a response by states is likely as people become more aware of the implications. He said there is mounting outrage against the company.
Continue reading...Google Saves, Secures Wi-Fi Snooping Data
24. May 2010
Several European countries’ data privacy authorities have launched investigations into Google’s actions. In the U.S., the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been asked to investigate Google by the consumer group Consumer Watchdog.
Continue reading...FTC OKs Google-AdMob Deal Despite Concerns
22. May 2010
John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog said the deal will undermine competition, and could result in higher prices for advertisers and consumers.
Continue reading...FTC Clears Google Purchase of Mobile Ad Service
21. May 2010
“How this possibly can be construed as promoting competition is incomprehensible,” said John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog, a strident Google critic. “What it demonstrates is Google’s clout in Washington.”
Continue reading...FTC Approves Google’s AdMob Buy
21. May 2010
“We’re very disappointed, we think it’s still pretty clear that these two combined are an unstoppable juggernaut,” said John Simpson, Consumer Watchdog spokesman on Friday. “There’s also an arguable case that Apple’s activities need to be investigated right now with what they’re planning to do with Quattro and perhaps shutting people out of the iPhone platform.”
Continue reading...Dear Google: Harm or Not, You Fouled Up on Privacy
21. May 2010
In addition to the letter from the two U.S. legislators about the Street View data collection, the advocacy group Consumer Watchdog has sent a letter to the FTC asking it to investigate Google’s practices. The group also launched a site called Inside Google (http://insidegoogle.com/) to call attention to what it believes are the company’s failings in various areas, including privacy. As the growing furor over Facebook and its approach to privacy has shown, concern is mounting about social networks and Web companies, what kinds of data they’re collecting, and how they’re using the information. Google continues to downplay the importance of what was a serious breach of personal privacy.
Continue reading...Google Hit with Class-Action Lawsuit Over WiFi Snooping
21. May 2010
Google faces other legal actions over the Street View snafu. German prosecutors, for example, have launched a criminal investigation into Google’s actions, while in the US, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been asked to investigate Google by the consumer group Consumer Watchdog.
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26. May 2010