Inside Google

Twitter Breach Revives Security Issues With Cloud Computing

Jaikumar Vijayan

Concerns are the same as with any outsourcing, remote data access, IT managers say.

Consumer Watchdog group said the Twitter incident raises the question
of whether "Google’s cloud as offered provides adequate safeguards."
Moving medical and health-related records, and information on domestic
and sexual assault and substance abuse to Google raises concerns over
how such sensitive data will be protected, the group wrote in a letter
addressed to City Council members. "Before jumping into the Google deal, the City Council needs to insist
on appropriate guarantees — for instance substantial financial
penalties in the event of any security breach," John Simpson, a
consumer advocate for the group wrote.

Google Is Faulted On Privacy

Holly Sanders Ware

A group critical of Google’s privacy practices got a jump on the search giant yesterday. Consumer Watchdog, which accuses Google of spying on users, sent out an
alert early yesterday claiming it had obtained a "confidential" and
"proprietary" document that the company had intended for lawmakers.

Google Posts Advertising ‘Spin Document’ Online

Jason Linkins

Well, it’s a good nod to almost-transparency, anyway. But just so you remember: Google would have preferred you not see these materials at all! And Consumer Watchdog President Jamie Court remains concerned…

Consumer Watchdog Takes On Google As Lawmakers Mull Data Privacy Regulation

Jason Linkins

Consumer Watchdog — which, as the name implies is a consumer watchdog organization — is raising alarms over privacy concerns that have been brought to the fore as online search company Google engages in wheeling and dealing before the House Communications and Consumer Protection Subcommittee.

Press Release

DOJ Launches Formal Investigation Into Google Book Search Settlement

CONTACT: Clint Boulton

The Department of Justice confirms its investigation into whether Google’s $125 million Book Search settlement violates U.S. antitrust laws. Opponents fear the agreement gives the search engine giant too much power in the digital book world. The fairness hearing is set for Oct. 7, 2009. "The fact that the Justice Department decided to formally notify the
judge in the Google Book Search class action settlement that it is
investigating the deal is an important development," consumer advocate
for Consumer Watchdog John Simpson said in an e-mail to eWEEK.

Press Release

Justice Probes Antitrust Issues In Google Deal With Publishers

CONTACT: J. Vascellaro J. Trachtenberg

Paul Aiken, executive director of the Authors Guild, also predicted
the settlement would "pass muster" because it opens up new markets. But
those concerned about the settlement said they were pleased with the
Justice Department’s letter. "This is now a clear step that they are
taking the matter seriously." said John M. Simpson, an advocate for
Consumer Watchdog, a non-profit consumer group.

Press Release

Justice Is Probing Google’s Book Deal

CONTACT: Alex Pham

The Justice Department on Thursday said it had launched a formal antitrust investigation into the proposed settlement over the Google Inc. project to scan millions of books into a digital format. In recent months, a number of parties have objected to the settlement, including Consumer Watchdog in Santa Monica, the American Library Assn. and the Internet Archive, a nonprofit organization that seeks to digitize public domain books and make them freely available online. Many of the objections involve concerns that Google would create a monopoly on digital books.

Press Release

DOJ Officially Opens Investigation Into Google Book Search

CONTACT: Nancy Gohring

The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed on Thursday that it is
investigating a settlement involving Google Book Search for possible
antitrust violations, following months of speculation that the agency
had its eye on the service. Consumer Watchdog, a nonprofit group,
argues that the proposal gives Google special protections against
lawsuits over the orphan works. Those special protections would
discourage potential Google competitors from entering the digital book
business unless they could negotiate a similar protection, the group
argues. Consumer Watchdog has urged the DOJ to examine the settlement.

Press Release

Google Makes a Case That It Isn’t So Big

CONTACT: Miguel Helft

Eyes are rolling, especially in reaction to the idea that Google is a
relatively small player in a giant market. “They describe where they
are in a market under a kind of a fairy-tale spun gloss that doesn’t
reflect their dominance of key sectors,” said Jeff Chester, executive
director of the Center for Digital Democracy. “Google search is an
absolute must-have for every marketer in the world.”

Hill Mulls Online Privacy Rules — And Which Agency Would Oversee

Anne Veigle Greg Piper

Consumer groups want rules requiring a standard disclosure and
opt-in form, a ban on tracking information on a consumer’s health,
sexual orientation and financial condition and a "do-not-track"
registry that would enable people to declare they don’t want to be
tracked, according to a written statement from the Consumer Federation
of America. That group, the Center for Digital Democracy, Consumer
Watchdog and the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse have agreed on the
principles and are urging policymakers to adopt them. Allowing industry
to self-regulate won’t work, they say, because most companies rely on
"opt-out" mechanisms that are hidden from consumers. And the FTC’s
principles for behavioral advertising "don’t provide a basis for action
to stop abuses," the statement said.