Tag Archive | "Privacy"
Will Schmidt Divest From Google to Become Commerce Secretary?
The strong buzz in Washington, DC is that Google CEO Eric Schmidt is President Obama's top choice for Commerce Secretary and an appointment is coming soon. The CEO who made billions collecting our personal information online and serving us up to advertisers, the guy who created online privacy problems, would head the federal agency responsible for developing and executing the administration's online privacy policies.
Continue reading...Consumer Watchdog Praises FTC For Requiring Privacy Audits For Google, But Says Fines And Further Action Required
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC — Consumer Watchdog praised the Federal Trade Commission for requiring Google to submit to privacy audits for the next twenty years, but said the Internet giant should also face monetary penalties for its abuses. The nonpartisan, nonprofit public interest group also called for government action to curtail Google’s anti-competitive practices.
Continue reading...Consumer Watchdog Praises Judge For Blocking Google Books Deal
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Decision Sends Message Google Must Ask Permission Before Using Others' Property SANTA MONICA, CA — Consumer Watchdog praised Federal Judge Denny Chin today for rejecting the Google Books settlement and added that Google should finally learn it cannot usurp and exploit other people’s work and information without first asking permission. The decision also raised serious antitrust issues, the nonpartisan, nonprofit group noted.
Continue reading...Eric Schmidt Closing In On Top Commerce Job?
Friday, March 18, 2011
Consumer Watchdog, well-known for its opposition of Google — and Schmidt in particular — issued a release Thursday in opposition to a possible appointment. The group also sent a letter to Obama asking him not to nominate Schmidt for the position. “Putting Eric Schmidt in charge of policing online privacy is like appointing Bernie Madoff to direct the Securities Exchange Commission,” the release said.
Continue reading...Consumer Group: Google CEO Not Good For Commerce Post
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Frequent Google critic Consumer Watchdog sent a letter to the White House on Thursday blasting reports that outgoing Google chief executive Eric Schmidt is being considered to replace Commerce Secretary Gary Locke.
Continue reading...Cause For Concern About Washington’s Privacy Drive
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
The Obama Administration threw its weight behind privacy legislation Wednesday as Assistant Commerce Secretary Lawrence Strickling testified before the Senate Commerce Committee about online privacy. Clearly Washington is focusing on privacy issues, but will meaningful consumer protections be enacted? There is cause for concern.
Continue reading...Consumer Groups Warn Obama Privacy Law Could Be Dominated By Industry
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A "multi-stakeholder process" to develop online privacy codes advocated today by the Obama Administration runs the risk of being dominated by industry and failing to protect consumers if it is not organized in a fair and balanced manner, six public interest groups warned. The groups include Consumer Watchdog, The Center for Digital Democracy, Consumer Federation of America, Consumer Action, U.S. PIRG and the World Privacy Forum.
Continue reading...Google’s Tarnished Chrome
Friday, March 11, 2011
Consumer Watchdog asked House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., to examine Google’s close ties with the Obama administration. It also wants a broader Justice Department investigation of Google along the lines of the years-long antitrust probe of Microsoft, which culminated in a 2002 settlement with the government.
Continue reading...Will Google Maps Camera-Equipped Tricycles Take Pictures Of Our Kids Playground?
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Google's grand experiment in photographing the world's places for Google Maps has taken its "street view" cameras off-road with new hi-tech tricycles equipped with 360 degree view cameras to photograph the back roads, parks, college paths and inner sanctums of our world. The engineer's latest design raises the question: What will Google be capturing on its back-road tour that people don't want seen?
Continue reading...Google Street View Goes Off Road With Tricycle To Capture More Images
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Consumer Watchdog spokesman John Simpson said: “Google continues to push the envelope as far as it can and increasingly intrudes in our lives without asking permission. How long will it be before the Internet giant deploys teams with handheld cameras to photograph places where the trikes can’t go?”
Continue reading...
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
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