Inside Google

Consumer Watchdog, Privacy Rights Clearinghouse File Complaint Over Google’s “Deceptive” Privacy Policy Change

John M. Simpson

Charge Internet Giant Violated “Buzz Consent Agreement” and FTC Act

SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog and Privacy Rights Clearinghouse have filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission charging that Google violated the law and an earlier consent agreement when it forced a change in its privacy policy on users in a highly deceptive manner, without meaningful notice and consent.

Google Renames Robot Car Unit “Waymo” Reminding Us We Need to Know “Way More”

John M. Simpson

SANTA MONICA, CA – Google’s new name for its robot car division, “Waymo,” fits, Consumer Watchdog said today, because it reminds us that we must know “way more” about robot cars and the serious policy issues they raise before self-driving cars can be safely deployed.

Consumer Watchdog Welcomes FCC’s New Broadband Privacy Rules Passed On 3-to-2 Vote

John M. Simpson

Calls For Consumer Privacy Protections To Be Extended To Cover All Internet Companies

SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog today welcomed the Federal Communications Commission’s new broadband privacy rules enacted on a 3-to-2 vote as a major step toward protecting consumers’ online privacy, but added it is now necessary to extend protections to cover the rest of the Internet.

Google Raises 3rd Quarter Lobbying 4.2 Percent to $3.81 Million But Spending Falls Behind AT&T’s $4.11 Million; Oracle, Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook Top $2 Million

John M. Simpson

SANTA MONICA, CA – Google increased its 2016 third-quarter federal lobbying spending 4.2 percent to $3.81 million from $3.65 million in the comparable 2015 period, but fell to second place in lobbying expenditures among 16 technology and communications companies tracked by Consumer Watchdog.

Robot Car Technology Requires Thorough Testing, Enforceable Safety Standards, Auto Safety Advocates Tell NHTSA Chief

John M. Simpson

Ignoring Deadly Defects As In Tesla’s Autopilot Serves No One

SANTA MONICA, CA – Auto safety advocates today told National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) Administrator Mark Rosekind that “you inexcusably are rushing full speed ahead” to promote the deployment of self-driving robot car technology instead of developing adequate safety standards “crucial to ensuring imperfect technologies do not kill people by being introduced into vehicles before the technology matures.”

Google Continues To Lead Pack In Federal Lobbying Expenditures As Most Tech Firms Cut Outlays; Amazon, Oracle Set New Records In Second Quarter Spending

John M. Simpson

WASHINGTON — Google trimmed its spending on federal lobbying in the second quarter of 2016 by 8.2 percent from the year before to $4.24 million, according to disclosure forms just filed with the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, but still significantly outspent other tech and communications giants.

Consumer Advocates Demand Federal Agency Act on Auto Safety Petition

Reback

Santa Monica, CA — A backroom deal by the federal agency responsible for auto safety to allow automakers to avoid following federal safety rules is unlawful and will lead to more deaths and injuries, three top consumer advocates said today. They urged the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to grant the formal petition the advocates filed in January to require automakers to make advanced safety technologies standard equipment on all cars and light trucks.

Consumer Watchdog Calls On Top US Transportation Chiefs Not To Work For Self-Driving Car Industry; Four Former NHTSA Officials Now Lobby For Robot Carmakers

John M. Simpson

SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog today called on Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind to “slam the revolving door” with the robot car industry shut with a written commitment that they will not work as an employee or consultant to developers of self-driving autonomous vehicles for at least seven years after leaving their respective positions.

Consumer Watchdog Says NHTSA Must Protect Safety, Require Steering Wheel, Driver In Robot Car Guidelines; Gives Google Self-Driving Car Project Execs Steering Wheel To Make Point

John M. Simpson

STANFORD, CA – Consumer Watchdog today called on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to require a steering wheel, brake and accelerator so a human driver can take control of a self-driving robot car when safety demands it in the guidelines it is developing on automated vehicle technology.

Consumer Watchdog Urges Federal Trade Commission To File Antitrust Charges Against Google Over Android Operating System Abuses

John M. Simpson

SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog today urged the Federal Trade Commission to file antitrust charges against Alphabet Inc.’s Google for using its monopoly power over the Android operating system to stifle competition and unfairly drive consumers to its own services.