Tag Archive | "lack of transparency"
Google’s Eric Schmidt Sheds Light On Security, Search, AdMob, China
Google could announce this week that it will move SSL encryption implemented in Gmail to other services such as search. During the company's annual shareholders meeting a question on this from John Simpson, an investor who works for Consumer Watchdog, prompted a curt "Do you get the drift of the answer?" from Google chief executive officer Eric Schmidt after Google vice president of search Marissa Mayer replied "stay tuned." Encryption has moved to the forefront after Google's admission last week it had collected small pieces of private information people sent through unencrypted wireless networks.
Continue reading...Google’s WiFi Debacle Shows Internet Giant’s Lack of Concern for Consumers’ Privacy
Friday, May 14, 2010
An admission today that Google’s StreetView cars were gathering private information from WiFi networks shows the company’s lack of concern for privacy and the need for government inspection of the data the company is collecting and storing, Consumer Watchdog said.
Continue reading...Few Hardballs from Shareholders at Google’s Annual Meeting
Friday, May 14, 2010
Perhaps the toughest shareholder question came from consumer advocate John Simpson, who asked Schmidt whether Google had agreed to a reported $700 million "kill fee" if Google's $750 million acquisition of the mobile advertising company AdMob is rejected by government antitrust regulators. Schmidt neither confirmed or denied that number, but predicted the deal would be approved by the Federal Trade Commission, which is expected to rule in coming days.
Continue reading...Google’s Growth Markets Include Lobbying
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Those numbers might have gone unnoticed if not for a handful of critics who fear Google is becoming too dominant in its markets and is seeking to become too influential in Washington, D.C. Perhaps chief among those critics is John Simpson, a consumer advocate at the nonprofit Consumer Watchdog. Simpson says he would like to see the Justice Department launch a broad antitrust investigation of Google.
Continue reading...We’re number one… or not. The vagaries of Google’s search engine.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
As we ready Inside Google, now in "Beta" mode, for its formal launch I've been checking various search engines to see where the site ranks. Today Google put me at number one.
Continue reading...Can Google explain this search result?
Monday, May 10, 2010
As we have been putting Consumer Watchdog's new Inside Google Website through its paces while it's still in "Beta" mode, I discovered an example of exactly the sort thing Google needs to explain.
Continue reading...Consumer Watchdog Targets Google
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Every month, Simpson comes to Washington to meet with staff on the Hill and regulatory agencies, journalists and corporate lobbyists. Simpson said he met last week with Jim Tierney, chief of the networks and technology section of the antitrust division of the Justice Department, and staffers about his petition for a broad investigation. Last year, he testified before Congress about privacy and competition concerns in Google's book settlement.
Continue reading...Facebook Bug Exposed Users’ Chats, Requests for Friends
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
“The problem is that Silicon Valley companies rush to get technology out and they just do things and ask for forgiveness later,” said John Simpson, who works on privacy issues for Consumer Watchdog. “But too much is at stake.”
Continue reading...New Web Ad Privacy Bill Riles All Sides
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Privacy advocates argue that the bill's exemption for "operational" collection of data--allowing those practices to take place under an "opt-out" rule--gives advertisers far too much leeway. "This bill really adopts an archaic and bankrupt 'notice and consent' regime that we all know doesn't' work," says John Simpson, head of the Google Privacy and Accountability project at Consumer Watchdog.
Continue reading...Privacy Bill Mimics Industry Self-Regulation
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Privacy advocates panned the bill during a conference call this afternoon, suggesting its lack of opt-out requirements maintain the status quo. "This bill really adopts and endorses an archaic, bankrupt notice and consent regimen that we know does not work," said a representative of ConsumerWatchdog.org.
Continue reading...
Monday, May 17, 2010
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