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ACI Testimony Quoted in NC News

editor — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:59:20 +0000

Last week, Steve Pociask testified at a North Carolina Legislative Committee hearing on Auto Insurance and was quoted by a North Carolina News Network – LINK HERE.

ACI: Google’s new privacy policies raise “grave concerns”

editor — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:30:07 +0000

“Washington, DC, January 25, 2012 –– In response to multiple news reports that Google will be consolidating their privacy policies and not allowing consumers to opt out, Steve Pociask, President of the American Consumer Institute, made the following statement:

“The reports of Google’s privacy changes, which will allow no opt out, raises grave concerns for consumers who are growing increasingly concerned about their privacy online. Google’s dominance of online search and its history of disdain for privacy protections and consumer transparency makes these changes even more worrisome.

“Whether it’s illegally collecting user data through its Street View product, hiding its privacy policy or settling with the FTC for violating its own privacy policy with Google Buzz, the company has proven that it has little regard for the privacy rights of consumers.”

ACI Cited Regarding ESI/Medco Merger Proposal

editor — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:49:40 +0000

Read the entire article here.

Florida Times Union Cites ACI Survey

editor — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 23:55:39 +0000

The Florida Times Union article “Floridians get the Cat Fund Troubles” mentions the American Consumer Institute survey of state insurance consumers and calls for fixing the current broken state-run insurance Cat fund. The article can be read here.

Daley in the Gainesville Sun: “Time to Halt No-Fault Scams”

editor — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:27:01 +0000

Alan Daley, Florida research director and frequent blogger at the American Consumer Institute, wrote a great piece on how no-fault insurance regulation has led to a cottage industry of fraud in the state. His piece was published in the Gainesville Sun and can be read here.

Christenson Writes on The Hill’s “Congress Blog”

editor — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:24:33 +0000

Zack Christenson, a regular contributor for ACI, wrote an execellent piece on how cable/video service reforms will increase competition and benefit consumers. Zack’s piece, published on THE HILL’s “Congress Blog” is available here.

Senators Kohl and Lee Call on the FTC to Investigate Google

editor — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 22:22:12 +0000

We applaud Senator Kohl and Senator Lee for standing up for consumers by raising additional concerns about Google’s dominant market power and questionable business practices, particularly given the inconsistencies in the testimony of Google’s Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt. While Schmidt seemed to agree with the Senators that Google did have dominant market power during sworn testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this year, he later retracted this in his written testimony to the Committee following the Hearing. In light of his wavering and other attempts to obfuscate the truth about the business practices of the Internet search giant, the Committee Chairman and Ranking Member are justified in asking the FTC to use its existing authority to investigate Google’s market power and to scrutinize their actions that appear designed to simply hobble their small but innovative competitors.

While new government regulations should be approached with caution and prudence, it is imperative for the future of Internet to enforce existing rules to protect consumers and promote a competitive technology and search marketplace. Ensuring that Google takes steps to protect the privacy of its users and does not hinder competition or harm small businesses and consumers is certainly within the bounds of FTC oversight.

The letter to the FCC from Senators Kohl and Lee is available here — Google FTC Letter 12 19 11

CATO Journal of Regulation: ACI Experts Write on the Case of Duopoly

editor — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:58:24 +0000

ACI Experts Erwin Blackstone, Larry Darby (deceased) and Joseph Fuhr write the on the duopolies, and conclude that industry structure is not a sufficient basis for imposing regulations. To read this study visit CATO.

ACI Insurance Survey Cited in Sun-Sentinel

editor — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:17:45 +0000

Read Julie Patel’s article in the Sun-Sentinel here.

The Hill’s Congress Blog: ACI Comments

editor — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:22:14 +0000

On December 7, 2011, The Hill’s Congress Blog published Steve Pociask’s blog — “Another Opportunity to Question Google’s Practices.”