Inside Google

FTC commissioner blasts Google and Facebook

John M. Simpson

Outgoing Federal Trade Commissioner Pamela Jones Harbour blasted Google and Facebook on Wednesday for insufficient concern about consumers’ privacy.

Harbour,…

Google’s Gmail and Chrome Pose Privacy Risks – ABC-7

John M. Simpson

Google’s arrogant, self-righteous executives

John M. Simpson

Google CEO Eric Schmidt’s recent speech to the Abu Dhabi Media Summit offers a revealing glimpse…

Press Release

FTC reportedly seeking sworn statements in Google-AdMob deal

CONTACT: John M. Simpson

Antitrust regulators are reported by Bloomberg news service to be seeking sworn statements from Google’s competitors and advertisers as they continue to investigate the the Internet giant’s proposed $750 million deal to buy AdMob.

Candidates Find Incumbent Advantage Extends To Web

Sara Jerome

Thirteen years in the House and a stint as majority leader have furnished Rep.Roy Blunt, R-Mo., with useful GOP and K Street support for his Senate bid. But Blunt’s long resume also means a boost from another source: Google. Google’s overwhelming dominance of the search market has brought its
power to determine marketplace outcomes under new scrutiny this year.
Tech company Foundem and other so-called "search neutrality" advocates
allege that the search engine is gaining an unfair advantage by
favoring its own products in searches. The advocacy group Consumer
Watchdog wrote the Justice Department last week urging it to
investigate the issue, while the European Commission is already
checking out complaints from Foundem and others.

The Onion nails Google on privacy

John M. Simpson

The Onion, the satirical newspaper, has an on-the-mark article today that makes you realize why people are concerned about the amount of information Internet giant…

Google bucks Europe on Street View

John M. Simpson

European Union officials are asking Google to improve privacy practices with its Street View service, …

Press Release

Google’s European troubles and one good thing about the Italian case

CONTACT: John M. Simpson

Google has taken a one-two punch to the chin this week from Europe first with the news that the European Commission is probing the Internet giant for possible antitrust violations followed by the conviction of three top executives for invasion of…

Press Release

Judge Puts Off Ruling On Google’s Proposed Digital Book Settlement

CONTACT: Cecilia Kang

NEW YORK, NY — Google confronted a barrage of criticism from opponents of its proposed digital book settlement Thursday as the Internet search giant tried to persuade a federal judge to approve a deal that would allow it to create the world’s largest online library. Some consumer groups warned Thursday that the company that preaches not to be evil could suffer from eroding trust. "They are part of this Silicon Valley culture which says ‘don’t ask for
permission because you can always ask for forgiveness,’ " said John
Simpson, head of the nonprofit group Consumer Watchdog. "The problem is
that they are starting now to be so big and so ambitious that some of
the things they are trying to do now are overreaching in a way that
will very likely tarnish their brand."

Judge asks tough questions in Google Books case

John M. Simpson

U.S. Judge Denny Chin began Thursday’s marathon Fairness Hearing in the Google Books case by ending the suspense. "I’m not going to rule today," he said. But sitting in the courtroom observing the more than four-hour long
hearing, the questions Judge Chin asked left me believing that the
objections to the deal raised by groups like Consumer Watchdog have
made a strong impression on him.