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In The News
Consumer Watchdog's experts and advocates are quoted every day in the printed press, online, and on TV and radio. Below are selections from our appearances in the news.
News Story
2/23/2012
By Chad Terhune, LOS ANGELES TIMES
The proposed premium hikes for hundreds of thousands of California consumers with individual coverage would outpace the cost of overall medical care, which has risen just 3.6% in the last year.
California's largest health insurers are raising average rates by about 8% to 14% for hundreds of thousands of consumers with individual coverage,...
News Story
2/22/2012
By Elinor Mills, CNET.COM
From Google's privacy policy change to Google overriding browser default settings, the FTC is getting an earful from privacy groups and lawmakers.
The Center for Digital Democracy (CDD) today filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission claiming that Google's move to consolidate its dozens of privacy policies violates an...
News Story
2/22/2012
By Dave Rice, THE SAN DIEGO READER
A volunteer-backed citizens’ group calling itself Consumer Watchdog is pushing an initiative that would give the state insurance commissioner the power to reject excessive hikes in health care rates.
Current Commissioner Dave Jones complained during a San Diego appearance last July that although 1988’s Prop 103 gives him the power...
News Story
2/21/2012
By Terrence Stutz, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS
AUSTIN, TX -- Farmers Insurance agreed recently to a national class-action settlement that included up to $90 million in restitution for its Texas customers for homeowners and auto rates that were too high, but a related case may once again be revived in the state.
The Texas case - the first class-action insurance lawsuit ever filed by the...
News Story
2/21/2012
By Aaron Kase, LAWYERS.COM
It seems no good deed goes unpunished. A temporarily disabled Korean War veteran in California is suing the Senior Health Insurance Company of Pennsylvania (SHIP) for allegedly engaging in deceptive practices to avoid paying claims the plaintiff says should have been covered.
Long-term insurance company sued in California for evading payment...
News Story
2/20/2012
By Kenny Goldberg, KPBS Public Radio (San Diego, CA)
Click here to listen to the audio of this news broadcast.
Consumer advocates are trying to get a measure on the fall ballot that would allow the state to regulate health insurance premiums.
SAN DIEGO — Signatures are being collected on an initiative that would allow state regulators to control the price of health insurance. The measure...
News Story
2/18/2012
By Staff Writers, CNET.COM
When it comes to privacy, is the Googleplex speaking with one voice?
A new Google privacy controversy has revealed conflicting messages and actions between two different factions within the company: those working to protect consumer privacy on the one hand, and those seeking to improve advertising and social networking on the other.
Meanwhile...
News Story
2/18/2012
By Staff Writers, AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- Google was under fire Friday after it was revealed the Internet giant's ad-targeting "cookies" bypassed track-blocking software on Apple's web browser for iPhones and computers.
Snippets of code called "cookies" from Google three online ad specialty firms slipped past tracker-blocking safeguards...
News Story
2/18/2012
By James Temple, THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
Search giant and others bypass privacy settings to keep track of our online habits
Google and several other advertising companies are bypassing the privacy settings in Apple's Safari browser, according to a report from a Stanford University researcher that set off a heated debate on Friday.
The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday night...
News Story
2/18/2012
By Jennifer Valentino-Devries, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
Three congressmen on Friday called on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Google Inc., after The Wall Street Journal reported that the Internet giant was bypassing privacy settings of people who used Apple Inc.'s Web browser on phones and computers.
The lawmakers—Edward J. Markey (D., Mass.), Joe Barton (R., Texas) and Cliff...
