Privacy Watchdog Suffers Google's Ire

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/corporateering/articles/?storyId=25075

In the media  — February 23, 2009
Privacy Watchdog Suffers Google's Ire

By Mark Harris, TECHRADAR.COM
Search Giant Tries To Pull Consumer Watchdog's Funding

The U.S. privacy and consumer protection group Consumer Watchdog today  
shot back at Google for allegedly trying to have its funding withdrawn.

A letter from Bob Boorstin, Google's Director of Corporate and Policy  
Communications, to a Consumer Watchdog sponsor, the Rose Foundation,  
expressed his hope that the Foundation would "consider whether there  
might be better groups in which to place your trust and resources."

Consumer Watchdog found itself in Mountain View's firing line after it  
investigated and publicised reports of Google's lobbying efforts in  
Washington DC.

Medical files available to all?

The non-profit group suspects Google of lobbying Congress to weaken  
the current prohibition on the sale of medical records and shave off  
protections - a claim that Google denies.

Consumer Watchdog President Jamie Court said, ""Google should openly  
disclose all its lobbying positions on Capitol Hill. Google should  
publish all of its correspondence and policy communications to  
legislators, as we do, and as a way of practicing the open information  
culture it preaches."

"We have tried to constructively engage Google on its privacy problems  
for about six months now. It's remarkable that Google's most rapid  
response to our privacy concerns is a letter from its director of  
Corporate and Policy Communications to the charity funding our work,  
seeking an end to its support."

There's more on the spat at the Consumer Watchdog website www.ConsumerWatchdog.org/google 
, where you can also find out more about their campaigns on Google and  
privacy.



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