Date: Mon, 9 Jun 2008 12:21:08 -0700 Message-Id: <200806091921.m59JL81c011318@mail.actionmessage.com> Subject: Five Questions for Google CEO Eric Schmidt from Latinos in Information Sciences and Technology Association (LISTA) MIME-Version: 1.0 List-Post: NO X-Mailer: Mail::Mailer[v1.77] Net::SMTP[v2.31] Errors-To: bounce+a=SNEWS-c=LISTA2-e=declan.mccullagh=cnet.com@ActionMessage.com List-Help: mailto:matt@spectrumnewsmedia.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Reply-To: matt@spectrumnewsmedia.com To: declan.mccullagh@cnet.com List-Owner: mailto:matt@spectrumnewsmedia.com X-List-Owner-Address: Spectrum News Media, 4804 41st Street, NW, , Washington, DC, United States 20016 From: matt@spectrumnewsmedia.com X-OriginalArrivalTime: 09 Jun 2008 19:21:10.0066 (UTC) FILETIME=[F9272920:01C8CA65] Latinos in Information Sciences and Technology Association For Immediate Release Contact: Jose Marquez 404-775-1408 June 9, 2008 Five Questions for Google CEO Eric Schmidt Atlanta, GA - Google CEO Eric Schmidt failed to address the most pressing concerns of civil rights organizations and Hispanic technology entrepreneurs in a speech delivered here today, according to the Latinos in Information Sciences and Technology Association (LISTA). "A growing number of concerned activists are raising questions about the impact of the proposed Google-Yahoo! search ad pact, and it is important that Google address these concerns publicly," said LISTA President & CEO Jose Marquez. Schmidt spoke earlier today at a luncheon for the Economic Club in Washington, DC, whose members include chief executives and other top officials from the nation's leading businesses and associations. LISTA has outlined five questions that it feels it incumbent on Google to answer, including: 1. Given the growing reliance on online activism by civic organizations, how will Google ensure that it does not abuse the near 90% share of the search market it will most certainly control if it aligns with Yahoo!, which could allow the company to control how Americans access information on key issues? 2. Google has in the past been accused of using its search algorithms to favor certain search results over others. Such accusations are of particular concern to Hispanic-owned small businesses that rely on Internet search for a competitive equalizer in a marketplace dominated by large corporations. How will a company with 90% control of the search market allay fears that small businesses will lose this valuable economic resource? 3. Privacy advocates such as the Electronic Privacy Information Center and consumer groups like US PIRG have raised serious concerns about Google's privacy policies and practices - concerns that are doubled by the proposed deal that would give Google near-total control of the online search market. For Latinos considering subscribing to broadband services, worries about privacy - along with child safety and content filtering - are determining factors. How quickly will Google move to address these concerns? 4. During review of its acquisition of DoubleClick, Google pledged to alter several of its information-gathering techniques to address privacy concerns, including its use of "cookies" to track users' surfing habits. And yet the company has opposed an array of privacy regulations ranging from state laws in New York and elsewhere to adoption of FTC self-regulatory principles. Is Google now backing away from the pledges it made to usher along the approval of the DoubleClick deal, and will it take a similar tack when attempting to gain antitrust approval for the Yahoo! pact? 5. Cyberlaw scholars have noted that Google's disclosure of its privacy policy, which is not easily accessible from the company's home page, may be in violation of California state law. For Hispanic Internet users - the fastest-growing online population in the country - it is critical that privacy policies and other terms of use are readily disclosed, particularly to users who are new to the Internet. How will Google ensure that its disclosures comply with basic common-sense consumer protection principles? "We respectful ask that Google address these valid concerns being raised by civic organizations and entrepreneurs," Mr. Marquez added. "Public acceptance of a Google-Yahoo! alliance hinges upon an open and honest dialogue on these critical issues." ### Latinos in Information Sciences and Technology Association (LISTA): LISTA (www.a-lista.org) promotes the utilization of the technology sectors for the empowerment of the Latino community. We are an organization that is committed to bringing various elements of Technology under one central hub to facilitate our partners, members and the community with the leverage and education they need to succeed in a highly advanced technologically driven society. LISTA Mission is to educate, motivate and encourage the use of technology in the Latino community and empowering them to bridge the digital divide.