Group Attacks Google Privacy, Schmidt with Times Square Ad

Chloe Albanesius
PC Mag
Friday, September 3, 2010

Just in time for the holiday weekend, a California-based consumer group has purchased space on a Times Square jumbotron to display a video that attacks Google chief executive Eric Schmidt and his company’s privacy policies.

The effort is part of Consumer Watchdog’s “Don’t Track Me” campaign, which is pushing Congress to pass legislation that would create a list of consumers who do not want Internet companies tracking their online activities – much like the “do not call” list bans unsolicited telemarketing calls.

“We’re satirizing Schmidt in the most highly-trafficked public square in the nation to make the public aware of how out of touch Schmidt and Google are when it comes to our privacy rights,” Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog, said in a statement.

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The organizaiton pointed to Google’s unauthorized collection of unencrypted data traveling over Wi-Fi networks, its Buzz social-networking service, and recent policy proposal with Verizon regarding net neutrality as evidence that Google has “lost its way.”

The Times Square ad, projected on a 540 square foot screen, is a 15-second animated short featuring a bobble-headed Schmidt as an evil ice cream man. “He’s collecting YOUR personal information,” a message flashes on the screen.

It then urges viewers to “tell Google to stop tracking your every move” by texting “EVIL” to 69866, though it’s unclear what that text will accomplish (or, ironically, if your cell phone information will be collected). Consumer Watchdog did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Full story here.

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