Inside Google

Press Release

Google CEO Eric Schmidt Resigns From Apple’s Board

CONTACT: John Boudreau

Google CEO Eric Schmidt’s resignation today from Apple’s board underscored that it when comes to business, competition is thicker than friendship. Meanwhile, a consumer group, Consumer Watchdog, on Monday called on
Genentech Board Chairman Arthur Levinson, who sits on the boards of
Google and Apple, to quit one of them to avoid antitrust violations. In addition to conflicts that could arise from sitting on the boards of
competing companies, Genentech is an investor with Google in the
genetic testing company 23andMe run by Anne Wojcicki, wife of Google
co-founder Sergey Brin.

Press Release

FTC Says Google, Apple Probe Still On As Spotlight Shifts

CONTACT: Sharon Gaudin

Consumer Watchdog Wants Genentech Exec To Quit Google Or Apple Board

Consumer Watchdog, formerly known as the Foundation for Taxpayer and
Consumer Rights, called on former Genentech CEO Arthur Levinson to pick one board or the other. ?It
took Eric Schmidt far too long to realize that the two roles are
incompatible. That’s not surprising considering the clubby atmosphere
of Silicon Valley,? said John M. Simpson, a Consumer Watchdog consumer
advocate, in a written statement. ?Nonetheless, we’re glad Schmidt
finally did the right thing. We call on Levinson to act responsibly and
choose one company or the other.?

Press Release

U.S. FTC To Press On With Apple-Google Board Probe

CONTACT: John Poirier

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Federal Trade Commission said it will
continue to investigate the relationship between the boards of Apple
Inc. and Google Inc., after Google’s chief, Eric Schmidt, quit Apple’s board on Monday. A consumer rights group criticized Schmidt for taking too long to leave
Apple’s board, and called on former Genentech CEO Arthur Levinson to choose either Apple or Google. "Nonetheless, we’re glad Schmidt finally did the right thing," Consumer
Watchdog said in a statement. "We call on Levinson to act responsibly
and choose one company or the other."

Genentech’s Levinson Still Straddles Apple, Google

Mark Hachman

Now that Google chairman and chief executive Eric Schmidt no longer
serves on the board of Apple, an industry group is calling for
Genentech chairman Arthur Levinson to choose sides. As of
Sunday, both Levinson and Schmidt served on the boards of both Apple
and Google. Now Levinson is the only one to straddle both boards, a
position that Consumer Watchdog said also presents a conflict of
interest.

Long Term, The Microsoft-Yahoo Deal Could Benefit Consumers

Larry Magid

John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog raised concerns about how users’ personal data is collected, stored and shared. He’s worried about "up-until-now separate databases being merged and
used in ways that haven’t been made explicit." Simpson hopes to see
Microsoft and Yahoo come up with a data retention policy that expunges
personal information in about a month and says that, by default, they
shouldn’t collect behavioral information unless consumers opt-in.

Press Release

Microsoft-Yahoo Deal Faces Moderate Antitrust Scrutiny, Say Experts

CONTACT: Greg Piper

Microsoft and Yahoo finally tied the knot, but they signed an expansive pre-nup to limit antitrust scrutiny. Vocal Google critic Consumer Watchdog didn’t denounce the deal
outright, noting that "some have suggested" that the tie-up may
increase competition against Google. But the Microsoft-Yahoo deal is a
chance for regulators to "set to the gold standard for privacy
guarantees by Internet companies and for the government to use its
leverage to obtain it," it said. Consumer Watchdog’s John Simpson said
the FTC should take a strong lead on privacy matters. "If the result of
this deal is that there are two stronger Internet search enterprises
who exploit users’ data at the expense of their privacy rights,
consumers are worse off, not better," he said. "Justice and the FTC can
— and must — insist on this."

Press Release

Consumer Advocates Exhort DOJ, FTC To Scrutinize Microsoft-Yahoo Deal

CONTACT: Clint Boulton

John Simpson, an advocate with non-profit group Consumer Watchdog, also
said the Microhoo deal must be closely scrutinized by the Federal Trade
Commission, the Justice Department and the European Commission to
ensure that there are no antitrust violations and that user privacy is
guaranteed. "If the result of this deal is that there are two stronger Internet
search enterprises who exploit users’ data at the expense of their
privacy rights, consumers are worse off, not better," said Simpson.
"Users must have control of their data—whether it is collected and how
it is used. Guarantees of that control must be in place before this
deal is approved. Justice and the FTC can—and must—insist on this."

Press Release

Microsoft, Yahoo Finally Sign Search Deal

CONTACT: James Temple

Microsoft and Yahoo clearly are bracing for regulatory scrutiny. The news release emphasized that the two companies will "continue to compete vigorously" in other areas, including e-mail, instant messaging and display advertising. It also stressed that the agreement restricts the sharing of search and other data.
Consumer Watchdog in Washington, D.C., called on the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission to probe the deal for potential antitrust violations and privacy concerns.

Press Release

Microsoft-Yahoo! Pact Hit With Anti-Trust Question

CONTACT: Gavin Clarke

Three-Into-Two Doesn’t Wash

Consumer Watchdog noted the competitive search and advertising
landscape will deteriorate – not improve – if the result is two
enterprises that exploit users’ data at the expense of their privacy
rights. John Simpson, an advocate with the group, said the FTC and DoJ must
insist users retain control of their data, how it’s used, and where its
stored. "Users must have control of their data – whether it is collected and
how it is used. Guarantees of that control must be in place before this
deal is approved. Justice and the FTC can – and must – insist on this,"
he said in a statement.

Experts: Make the (Transparent) Case for Behavioral Advertising

Susan Hall

When the online advertising industry recently issued seven principles to protect consumer privacy, you could see the lines being drawn. John Simpson, consumer advocate for California-based nonprofit Consumer
Watchdog, doesn’t believe this industry will be able to regulate
itself. He believes opting in should be consumers’ choice, not the current
model where they have to work to opt out of having their Web-surfing
habits monitored. He says that if advertisers clearly explain their
programs and how that benefits customers, those users are likely to be
willing to be part of it.