Category Archives: Press Releases and Editorials
Holiday Gift Privacy Guide
This holiday season, make sure that the latest tech gadgets on the market are not invading the privacy of you or someone you love. Some of this season’s more popular home products and children’s toys are equipped with geo-locational tracking, infrared sensors that detect movement, and microphones … Read More ›
Big Win: FCC Adopts Landmark Internet Privacy Rules
On October 27, 2016, the Federal Communications Commission adopted privacy protections that place consumers in charge of the sharing of sensitive personal information by broadband Internet access providers. The rules, which are unprecedented in the United States, will stop Internet access providers from misusing customers’ browsing history, … Read More ›
CFC Applauds FCC Chairman Wheeler’s Broadband Privacy Proposal
The FCC Chairman’s proposal would prohibit Broadband Internet Access Service (BIAS) providers from sharing sensitive information without a consumer’s consent. The proposal also requires BIAS providers to inform consumers about what information they collect and with whom that information is shared. Read More ›
CFC Announces Endorsements in November 2016 Legislative Races
Consumer Federation of California (CFC) has endorsed these candidates for election in November 2016: Assembly District 24: Vicki Veenker (D) Assembly District 27: Ash Kalra (D) Assembly District 65: Sharon Quirk-Silva (D) Senate District 3: Mariko Yamada (D) Senate District 15: Jim Beall (D) (Incumbent) The endorsements … Read More ›
Forced Arbitration: A Sneaky Rip-Off
Update: The CFC submitted a letter in strong support of the proposed rule to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on August 22. View it here (pdf). When a bank or other financial institution engages in unfair, deceptive or downright abusive rip-offs, consumers should get their day in … Read More ›
Gender Pricing Discrimination – Democrats Team With Republicans To Stop SB 899 (Hueso)
SACRAMENTO – Consumer Federation of California-sponsored SB 899 (Hueso), a bill that would have ended gender pricing discrimination, was stopped by Democrats and Republicans in today’s meeting of the Assembly Judiciary Committee. Read More ›
AB 2688: Bad Health ‘Privacy’ Bill Would Unleash Information Sharing
SACRAMENTO – Consumer advocates called for the Senate Judiciary Committee to reject AB 2688 (Gordon), which would establish rules for health data information sharing. The Committee will hear AB 2688 at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 28. The bill would place into law broad industry controls over … Read More ›
Wells Fargo Identity Theft Racket Inspired SB 33 (Dodd): Justice for Victims
October 4 Update: Jerry Brown signed SB 33 into law. The Consumer Federation of California is co-sponsoring legislation by State Senator Bill Dodd (D-Napa) inspired by Wells Fargo’s fraudulent creation of two million customer accounts. Senate Bill 33 will make sure that in the future, victims of … Read More ›
Consumer Federation of California Sponsors SB 899 (Hueso) To End Gender Bias In Prices
SACRAMENTO – Consumer Federation of California is sponsoring SB 899 (Hueso) to prohibit businesses from charging customers different prices for substantially similar products on the basis of gender. The state Senate Judiciary Committee will consider SB 899 at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 12. This chronic problem has … Read More ›
Consumer Federation Of California Applauds FCC Move To Protect Broadband Privacy
SACRAMENTO – Consumer Federation of California (CFC) welcomed today’s decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to develop regulations protecting the privacy of personal information of broadband Internet consumers. “Today’s vote is a significant advance for privacy protection. Consumers should decide whether their online activities and other … Read More ›
CFC Applauds FCC Move To Protect Broadband Privacy
“Today’s vote is a significant advance for privacy protection. Consumers should decide whether their online activities and other personal data are shared with third-party strangers,” CFC Executive Director Richard Holober said. “It is essential that any final FCC rule prohibits broadband carriers from charging extra for privacy. Privacy is a right that should not be available only to the wealthy.” Read More ›
Consumer Federation Of California Releases 2015 Scorecard For State Lawmakers
SACRAMENTO – The Consumer Federation of California (CFC) has released its 2015 Scorecard for State Legislators, which rates lawmakers on the votes they cast on key issues, including privacy, automobile safety, household toxics, truth in advertising, living wages, reform of the California Public Utilities Commission, and other … Read More ›
GEICO Pays $6 Million To Settle Civil Rights, Deceptive Rate Quote Complaint
SACRAMENTO – GEICO agreed to pay $6 million dollars to settle the Consumer Federation of California (CFC) complaint alleging the insurance giant violated civil rights and insurance law by targeting low- and moderate-income women and unmarried motorists with deceptive and inflated automobile insurance rate quotes. The settlement … Read More ›