CfA's June 19, 2020 Newsletter
Thank you for your continued support of CfA. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we are still working to hold the powerful accountable.
Our Latest Work:
- TTP Investigation: Google is Running Scam Ads When Americans Search for Information on Stimulus Checks: On Tuesday, CfA and TTP released a report revealing that Google is showing exploitative ads to users searching for information about their coronavirus stimulus checks. The investigation found ads served by Google which were set up to harvest people’s personal and financial data, charge bogus fees, or plant unwanted software into their browsers. (Press Release, Report)
- After reviewing TTP's Report, Senator Richard Blumenthal and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky sent a letter to FTC urging them to intervene and make Google address their glaring inability to contain these scams.
- IRS Complaint Against Daily Caller News Foundation for Abusing Nonprofit Status: On Wednesday, CfA filed a complaint with the IRS against the Daily Caller News Foundation alleging the nonprofit abused its tax-exempt status. The Daily Caller, a for-profit news publication founded by Tucker Carlson, and its related 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the Daily Caller News Foundation, appear to be violating nonprofit tax laws by, among other things, routing money and expenses through the nonprofit and engaging in political activities. (Press Release, Letter)
- Read Salon's write-up of CfA's complaint.
- "Boogaloo" in The News: In the last month, TTP's research into Boogaloo extremists has been regularly cited by a growing number of major new outlets in light of several high profile arrests of Boogaloo supporters for crimes committed during the ongoing national protests. TTP first reported that Boogaloo supporters were using Facebook groups to organize back in April, yet the company did not take appropriate steps to remove the groups. Weeks later, two law enforcement officers were allegedly murdered by men who were members of Boogaloo Facebook groups. (April Report, June Update).
What We're Reading:
- Secret Emails Expose Anti-Abortion Groups’ Influence on Public Health Official: "Earlier this month, the Campaign for Accountability—a nonpartisan and nonprofit watchdog organization focused on the ethical misconduct and wrongdoing of public officials—released communications from Dr. Diane Foley, current deputy assistant secretary for population affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)." (Ms., June 18 -- Read the CfA press release from June 1.)
- Watchdog: Emergency Fed programs boost big business most: "A congressional watchdog overseeing $500 billion in coronavirus relief funds said Thursday that the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department have done more to aid large corporations than smaller businesses or state and local governments." (Politico, June 18)
- Google kicked ZeroHedge off its ad platform, put The Federalist on notice for racist protest content: "“When a page or site violates our policies, we take action. In this case, we’ve removed both sites’ ability to monetize with Google,” a Google spokesperson said in a statement to NBC." (Tech Crunch, June 16)
- CfA Note: Several weeks earlier, a TTP report identified ZeroHedge as one of the many websites peddling misinformation that were profiting from Google's advertising tools.
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Follow Our Work:
We thank you for your continued support. Without people like you, our work would not be possible.
Here is how you can stay involved and help us accomplish our mission:
- Follow CfA on Twitter and Facebook.
- Follow the Tech Transparency Project on Twitter and Facebook.
- Tell your friends and colleagues about CfA.
- Send us a tip.
- Make a tax-deductible donation.
Be on the lookout for more updates about our work in the upcoming weeks. Thanks again for signing up to be a part of CfA!
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Daniel Stevens
Executive Director, Campaign for Accountability
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