Consumer Watchdog group goes after Google

Advertisement
By Nick Bilton, NYT News Service | Updated: 6 June 2012 15:01 IST
Highlights
  • Consumer Watchdog, a consumer group, has long been critical of Google and some of the comments that Eric Schmidt, the company’s chief executive, has made about privacy online.
Consumer Watchdog, a consumer group, has long been critical of Google and some of the comments that Eric Schmidt, the company's chief executive, has made about privacy online.

On Thursday, the group took its objections to a new level with a 540-square-foot video advertisement in Times Square in New York that shows Mr. Schmidt as an unctuous ice cream truck driver who knows everything about everyone and happily offers free ice cream in exchange for full body scans. (The video is available on YouTube, which is owned by Google.)

Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the advertisements. In the past, Mr. Schmidt has defended how the company views private information by saying "If you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place."

The group says its goal with the videos and an accompanying Web site, InsideGoogle.com, is to push Congress and the Federal Trade Commission to create a Do Not Track Me list, similar to the Do Not Call list developed to prevent telemarketers from aggressively calling consumers.

In a blog post promoting the videos, Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog, made his case for the campaign. He wrote: Do you want Google or any other online company looking over your shoulder and tracking your every move online just so it can increase its profits? Consumers have a right to privacy. They should control how their information is gathered and what it is used for.

The F.T.C.'s consumer affairs group did not respond to a request for comment on whether the agency was considering creating a Do Not Track Me list.

In a telephone interview, John Simpson, the director of the group's efforts involving Google, said his organization would continue to highlight the privacy issues until Congress or the F.T.C. got involved. "I've been in meetings with privacy groups where it comes up consistently, and I've talked with Washington staffers who are looking at the possibility of introducing legislation," he said.

Although Mr. Simpson said Google had been receptive to some consumer changes, he doesn't believe it's in the company's best interest to help consumers hide their personal identifiable information online.

"I think the fundamental problem with Google, and by extension Schmidt, is that they are first and foremost computer scientists that work in their own world where more data is better," he said, discussing Google's stance on privacy. "They don't think about the consequences this will have on consumers' personal privacy."



Get your daily dose of tech news, reviews, and insights, in under 80 characters on Gadgets 360 Turbo. Connect with fellow tech lovers on our Forum. Follow us on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News for instant updates. Catch all the action on our YouTube channel.

Further reading: Consumer Watchdog, Google
Advertisement
Popular Mobile Brands
  1. Apple Watch Hypertension Notifications Are Now Available in These Countries
  2. NASA Tests Nuclear Rocket Engine Designed for Faster Deep-Space Missions
  3. Clawdbot (Now Moltbot) Explained: What is It and Why is It Going Viral?
  4. Redmi Note 15 Pro Series Will Launch in These Colourways, Storage Options
  5. UIDAI's New Aadhaar App Lets You Easily Update Mobile Number, Address
  6. Google's Most Affordable Gemini Subscription Is Now Available Everywhere
  7. Amazon Axes 16,000 Jobs as It Pushes AI and Efficiency
  8. Samsung Galaxy S26 Series Listed on US FCC Database With This Feature
  9. New ALMA Images Reveal Complex Rings Left Behind by Planet Formation
  10. BSNL Launches Bharat Connect Prepaid; Slashes BSNL Superstar Premium Price
  1. Amazon Axes 16,000 Jobs as It Pushes AI and Efficiency
  2. Google AI Plus Plan Expanded Globally as the Most Affordable Gemini Subscription
  3. Redmi Note 15 Pro Series Colourways and Memory Configurations Listed on Amazon
  4. New ALMA Images Reveal Complex Rings Left Behind by Planet Formation
  5. BSNL Bharat Connect Prepaid Plan With 365-Day Validity Launched; Telco's BSNL Superstar Premium Plan Gets Price Cut
  6. Samsung Galaxy S26 Series Listed on US FCC Database With Support for Satellite Connectivity
  7. NASA Tests Nuclear Rocket Engine Designed for Faster Deep-Space Missions
  8. Hidden in Plain Sight: New Report Reveals Dozens of Nudify Apps in Major App Stores
  9. New Aadhaar App Full Version Launched in India, Introduces Easy Mobile Number Updation, and More
  10. Redmi Turbo 5 Chipset, Display and Other Key Features Confirmed Ahead of January 29 Launch
Gadgets 360 is available in
Download Our Apps
Available in Hindi
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2026. All rights reserved.