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."
Continue reading...Monday, October 26, 2009
Google wants the city of Los Angeles to switch its 30,000 e-mail users to an Internet-based system it operates, but rather than address real questions about the security of such "cloud computing" systems the Internet giant changes its story depending on its audience.
Continue reading...Thursday, October 15, 2009
A consumer advocacy group that is opposed to a plan by the city of Los Angeles to adopt Google's hosted e-mail and office applications is accusing the company of a double standard on security issues. In a letter to Bernard Parks, chairman of the Los Angeles City Council's Budget and Finance Committee, Consumer Watchdog claimed that Google was being hypocritical in marketing Google Apps to the city.
Continue reading...Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Group Also Releases 3rd Round Of Annotated Google Documents In ‘Charmwatch’ Campaign SANTA MONICA, CA -- Consumer Watchdog today slammed Google for its apparent hypocrisy in marketing its new "cloud computing" products, blandly assuring customers that their data is secure on Google Internet servers but at the same time warning shareholders of the security risks posed by swift expansion of its commercial online business. The nonpartisan, nonprofit group sent a letter to a Los Angeles City Councilman showing that Google says one thing when trying to sell its products, but something else in federally required filings aimed at shareholders. Consumer Watchdog also released another round of annotated Google P.R. documents in its Google “Charmwatch” campaign.
Continue reading...Wednesday, October 14, 2009
In a letter last week to City Councilman Bernard C. Parks, John Simpson of advocacy group Consumer Watchdog noted the stark language Google uses to describe the many things that could go wrong with its cloud-based systems.
Continue reading...Wednesday, June 3, 2009
A pair of watchdogs on Wednesday urged the White House not halt the pending appointment of Google's top global public policy executive to the position of deputy chief technology officer under CTO Aneesh Chopra, saying it would violate the intent of President Obama's ethics rules. Although the choice of Google's Andrew McLaughlin for the position has been widely reported, it has yet to be announced.
Continue reading...Wednesday, December 17, 2008
But Some Say Not Enough Data Are Purged John Simpson, a consumer advocate with Consumer Watchdog, said in a statement, "If data is not completely anonymous, this is nothing more than PR." Simpson's consumer group called for major search engines to match the policy of IXQuick, a Danish search engine that deletes all personal data after 48 hours.
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Friday, February 19, 2010
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