Tag Archive | "Washington DC"
Privacy Groups Press US Congress For Online Safeguards
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A coalition of consumer advocate and privacy groups on Tuesday urged the US Congress to protect the public from intrusive and often secretive tracking of their online activities and identity.
Continue reading...Privacy Group Coalition Urges Data Regulation
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Ten consumer and privacy groups are urging Congress to limit the way online information can be used for advertising and profiling. A coalition of ten consumer and privacy groups on Tuesday urged Congress to draft new legislation to preserve consumer privacy online by limiting behavioral advertising and establishing new ground rules for information collection and use.
Continue reading...Privacy Groups Send E-Commerce Recommendations To Capitol
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Privacy advocates are gearing up to push for broad electronic privacy legislation this fall, hoping to convince lawmakers that businesses' self-regulation techniques are inadequate. The groups also say Internet companies' efforts don't go far enough. "Self regulation does not work. We've seen it in capital markets. We've seen it online," said Consumer Watchdog's John Simpson.
Continue reading...Microsoft’s Secret ‘Screw Google’ Meetings In D.C.
Friday, August 28, 2009
In recent months, two heavily detailed, annotated versions of confidential Google slide presentations -- one dealing with competition issues, the other with behavioral targeting -- have been published by a Santa Monica–based group called Consumer Watchdog. The annotations are highly critical of Google and seek to rebut the search giant's arguments.
Continue reading...FTC to Apple, Google Boards: We’re Watching
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
The Federal Trade Commission says it will keep investigating the board memberships of Apple and Google despite Google CEO Eric Schmidt's withdrawal from Apple's board. Another boardroom interlock remains for the two companies: Genentech Chairman Arthur Levinson is on the board in both Mountain View and Cupertino. An E-Commerce Times request for response from Genentech regarding Consumer Watchdog's call for Levinson to step down from either Google's or Apple's board was not received by press time. One point mentioned by Consumer Watchdog's Simpson was Genetech's investment in 23andMe, the genetic-testing-for-consumers company founded by Anne Wojcicki, wife of Google cofounder Sergey Brin.
Continue reading...Google And Apple Not Off The Hook
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
The resignation of Google's Eric Schmidt as a director of Apple's board has failed to halt a government inquiry into possible antitrust violations. Mr. Schmidt stepped down because the search giant's business increasingly competes with Apple's. Former Genentech CEO Arthur Levinson still serves on both boards. Consumer Watchdog has called for him to step down from either Google or Apple to avoid antitrust violations.
Continue reading...U.S. FTC To Press On With Apple-Google Board Probe
Monday, August 3, 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Federal Trade Commission said it will continue to investigate the relationship between the boards of Apple Inc. and Google Inc., after Google's chief, Eric Schmidt, quit Apple's board on Monday. A consumer rights group criticized Schmidt for taking too long to leave Apple's board, and called on former Genentech CEO Arthur Levinson to choose either Apple or Google. "Nonetheless, we're glad Schmidt finally did the right thing," Consumer Watchdog said in a statement. "We call on Levinson to act responsibly and choose one company or the other."
Continue reading...Consumer Watchdog Calls On Genetech Exec To Quit Either Google Or Apple Board
Monday, August 3, 2009
Santa Monica, CA -- Genentech Board Chairman Arthur D. Levinson should quit as a director of either Internet giant Google or Apple to avoid antitrust violations, Consumer Watchdog said today, following the resignation of Eric Schmidt from the Apple board. The call from the nonprofit, nonpartisan consumer group came after the announcement that Google Chairman and Chief Executive Eric Schmidt, who held the same dual role, was stepping down from Apple’s board. The Federal Trade Commission has been investigating for several months whether Apple and Google had violated antitrust laws by sharing two directors.
Continue reading...Microsoft-Yahoo Deal Faces Moderate Antitrust Scrutiny, Say Experts
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Microsoft and Yahoo finally tied the knot, but they signed an expansive pre-nup to limit antitrust scrutiny. Vocal Google critic Consumer Watchdog didn't denounce the deal outright, noting that "some have suggested" that the tie-up may increase competition against Google. But the Microsoft-Yahoo deal is a chance for regulators to "set to the gold standard for privacy guarantees by Internet companies and for the government to use its leverage to obtain it," it said. Consumer Watchdog's John Simpson said the FTC should take a strong lead on privacy matters. "If the result of this deal is that there are two stronger Internet search enterprises who exploit users' data at the expense of their privacy rights, consumers are worse off, not better," he said. "Justice and the FTC can -- and must -- insist on this."
Continue reading...Microsoft, Yahoo Finally Sign Search Deal
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Microsoft and Yahoo clearly are bracing for regulatory scrutiny. The news release emphasized that the two companies will "continue to compete vigorously" in other areas, including e-mail, instant messaging and display advertising. It also stressed that the agreement restricts the sharing of search and other data. Consumer Watchdog in Washington, D.C., called on the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission to probe the deal for potential antitrust violations and privacy concerns.
Continue reading...
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
0 Comments