WebProNews

Advocacy Group Calls For Scrutiny Of Microsoft-Yahoo Deal

Advocacy organization Consumer Watchdog is urging the Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department to look closely at the proposed Microsoft-Yahoo search deal to ensure there are no antitrust violations and that user privacy is guaranteed. Under the proposed deal Yahoo would use Microsoft's Bing to sell ads that appear with search results. Google currently has 65 percent of the U.S. search market. Microsoft and Yahoo have 28 percent. Conventional wisdom is that the combination of the two smaller search businesses would offer stronger competition to Google.

Google Prepares To Hold Another D.C. Talk

Sometimes, Google and the government get along; one week from today, for example, Google will host a gathering in Washington, D.C. to discuss national security and Web 2.0.  Relationships don't always proceed smoothly, however, and two consumer watchdog groups have asked the president to decide against hiring a certain Googler.

Google Reaccused Of Lobbying Against Privacy Provisions

Several months ago, Consumer Watchdog asked Google to "cease a rumored lobbying effort aimed at allowing the sale of electronic medical records."  Google responded by calling the claim totally false.  Now, Consumer Watchdog's come back with evidence that Google lobbied for something health-related, and the group's demanded an explanation.