Inside Google

Press Release

At Hearing On Google Books, Critics Reiterate Opposition

CONTACT: Aruna Viswanatha

In press releases this morning outlining their testimony, critics of the plan reiterated their opposition. “In essence Google’s latest arguments seem to boil down to this: ‘Our
motto is don’t be evil, so you can trust us to control the world’s
digital library,’ said John Simpson, with a group called Consumer
Watchdog which has criticized Google on privacy issues.

Attorneys For Consumer Watchdog In Court To Argue Against Google Books Deal

John M. Simpson

NEW YORK, NY — Attorneys for Consumer Watchdog will appear in a federal
court today to urge Judge Deny Chinn to reject the revised Google Books
settlement because it remains anticompetitive and violates both U.S.
and international law.

Google Buzz ‘Breaks Privacy Laws’

Maggie Shiels

A leading privacy group has urged US regulators to investigate Google’s
new social networking service Buzz, one week after its launch.

The Consumer Watchdog, an advocacy group, said it was not surprised by this stumble. "This case illustrates a lot about Google’s corporate culture where a
company is run by computer scientists whose operating method is don’t
ask for permission when you can always ask for forgiveness," said the
organisation’s John Simpson.

Google’s privacy debacle displays firm’s true colors

John M. Simpson

Google’s launch of its social network  "Buzz" and the ensuing outcry from consumers over they way it trampled on their privacy rights says a lot about the Internet giant’s…

Google updates Buzz social-networking service amid privacy concerns

Jessica Guynn

The Internet giant has tweaked the sign-up process to make the
opt-out option clearer and made it easier to block people from
following users.

"Google shows continued tone deafness to the very important privacy
rights of consumers," John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog said.

Privacy controls on Google’s Buzz are backwards

John M. Simpson

Google turned its new "Buzz" social networking function on in my Gmail account today and I spent some time checking it out. Conclusion: it’s got the privacy controls backwards.

While…

Google’s Buzz will give Internet giant even more data

John M. Simpson

Google launched its much anticipated social networking service, Buzz, today aimed a competing with sites like Facebook and Twitter….

Press Release

AdMob May Win Big Even As Privacy Debate Rages

CONTACT: James Temple

It’s these highly personalized capabilities that raise the hackles of
privacy advocates, however. They raise a host of questions about "how
the data is used and manipulated without the consumer understanding,"
said John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog. Those concerns are only
heightened by the proposed acquisition by Google, which he said could
bore deeper into personal information by coupling its rich user
databases with AdMob’s.

Google search ad, what dat?

John M. Simpson

Super Bowl XLIV wasn’t only a first for the New Orleans Saints, it was also a landmark for Internet giant, Google.  The company actually bought an ad, one that ironically reveals exactly the privacy issues raised by the company that consumers should worry about.

Press Release

Consumer Watchdog Praises DOJ for Opposing Google Books Settlement

CONTACT: John M. Simpson 310 392-0522 ext. 317 or cell 310 292-1902

SANTA MONICA, CA — Consumer Watchdog praised the U.S. Department of
Justice today for opposing the amended Google Books Settlement. The DOJ
said that while there were improvements in the amended settlement,
problems with class certification, copyright and antitrust issues
remained.