You are here

Home >

Ed's Blog

Supreme Court GPS search decision suggests possibility of greater privacy rights, even on the Internet

Monday, January 23, 2012
By | Ed Mierzwinski
Consumer Program Director

Today's unanimous Supreme Court decision in United States v. Jones (docket 10-1259), read most narrowly, merely says: "We hold that the Government’s installation of a GPS device on a target’s vehicle, and its use of that device to monitor the vehicle’s movements, constitutes a “search.” That means the government should be careful to obtain valid warrants and comply with the Constitution's 4th Amendment limits on "unreasonable searches and seizures. But the Court offered tantalizing clues to its thinking that, in the modern electronic age, reasonable expectations of privacy warrant a review of Government -- and even third party -- collection of information.

"Dirty Thirty" corporations spend more on lobbying than they pay in taxes; Meanwhile, does Mitt Romney join them in hiding money in offshore tax havens?

Thursday, January 19, 2012
By | Ed Mierzwinski
Consumer Program Director

Yesterday, U.S. PIRG Education Fund released a report identifying a "Dirty Thirty" of Fortune 500 companies that paid more to lobby Congress than they did in Federal Income Taxes. Here is the release.

SOPA and PIPA stop innovation and freedom and harm consumers without stopping online piracy

Wednesday, January 18, 2012
By | Ed Mierzwinski
Consumer Program Director

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and powerful music, film and publishing titans have gone too far in demanding that the Internet as we know it -- an engine of innovation, freedom, democracy, commerce, idea-sharing and entrepreneurship -- be throttled down so that their legitimate problems with offshore pirates can supposedly be solved. They think every problem is a nail but their only tool is a hammer, a sledgehammer. Their bills won't hammer the nail, but they will hammer you, me and the Internet.

To lessen online banking risks, lessen consumer liability risks

Tuesday, January 17, 2012
By | Ed Mierzwinski
Consumer Program Director

In addition to a story on the Zappos' hack, the New York Times also has an editorial "Convenient, but How Secure?" on the growth of online banking and new regulations being implemented that should lessen fraud loss risk.

Pages

More

Tools & Resources

You Can Help

We have a chance to cut billions in junk food subsidies this year. Your support will help us do the research, advocacy and grassroots organizing to convince our elected officials to act.

donate today

PRIORITY ACTION

Each year, our tax dollars pay for enough junk food additives to buy 8.5 two-liter bottles of soda for each person under 18. Help stop the subsidies for junk food.

Take Action

Consumer Alerts

Join our network and stay up to date on our campaigns, get important consumer updates and take action on critical issues.