RSSFTC Asked to Block Google-DoubleClick Merger
By Ed Oswald | Published April 20, 2007, 2:18 PM
The chorus of opposition to the proposed Google-DoubleClick deal grew louder Friday as three interest groups filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission over privacy concerns.
The Electronic Privacy Information Center, Center for Digital Democracy, and U.S. Public Interest Research Groups are petitioning the FTC to block the merger until concerns over Google's data collection and storage are addressed.
"The acquisition of DoubleClick will permit Google to track both a person's Internet searches and a person's web site visits," the three organizations said in a joint 11-page complaint. The privacy of 1.1 billion Internet users is at stake, they argue.
EPIC had previously called DoubleClick's practices into question seven years ago, when it asked the FTC to look into its plans to merge data into its systems on consumer's offline behavior following the purchase of Abacus, a direct marketing company.
DoubleClick later gave up on that initiative, and ended its measure to profile online consumers altogether. In many ways, this new complaint is very similar to that project, in that Google would like to merge search data with DoubleClick's information.
Google is being accused of unfair and deceptive trade practices, and failing to follow the standards set by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, which list industry standards for consumer privacy.
This is not the only effort to address privacy concerns surrounding Google's data collection practices: a European privacy rights group plans to begin a similar effort against the company across the Atlantic.
To its defense, Google has said it had a "history of being an advocate for user privacy," and is "committed to transparency for end users, and to respecting the choices they make with regards to their privacy preferences."
However, these groups aren't buying it. "Google's proposed acquisition of DoubleClick will give one company access to more information about the Internet activities of consumers than any other company in the world," the complaint reads.
Furthermore, the Mountain View, Calif. company would have no legal obligation to ensure the "privacy, security, and accuracy of the personal data that it collects," it continues.
Among the relief the three groups are asking for is a full investigation into Google's data collection methods; removal of DoubleClick's persistent cookies to identify users, unless permission is given by the user; and forcing Google to comply with commonly accepted privacy guidelines.
Neither Google nor DoubleClick had any immediate comment on the complaint.
Im glad that the ftc is taking action against this merger. For a long time I was concidering getting google ad sence because I've always trusted google over other internet based companies. If google were to merge with double click, I would seriously reconsider how much trust I should place in google.
Even though I have no doubt that google is one of the best internet companies, what have we all done when given lots of power?
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|They might have to double-block the merger. Google might just click twice. Haw haw. Try the veal.
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|When Microsoft complains to FTC to make them block the deal, then Microsoft would have known right from the start that they shouldn't be able to legally buy doubleclick either.
If Microsoft bought DoubleClick they would be in the same situation where they would be able to use doubleclicks tracking data together with its own search engine tracking data, and through that track a user almost anywhere on the web.
And I must admit that google has way better reputation of the two. And a way better PR machine.. I think there's no doubt that Microsoft would use the information to earn money for themselves. It's business. I guess google would do the same in the end. But from a historical perspective google usually gives people an option more or less.
So in my opinion of the two, Microsoft and google, we would be better off with google having the deal go through.
And no. I'm not naive, google is a business too in the market for earning money. They just tend to show that they care more about their customers.
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|This is all much ado about nothing. Nobody is required to use Google, and it's easy enough to use a hosts file or DNS server to map all doubleclick.com hosts to 127.0.0.1 so they get no info. One can also configure their browser to reject cookies from DoubleClick if they're that concerned.
I'm as much of a privacy advocate as anybody, but I'm even more of an advocate for personal responsibility. Don't like Google or DoubleClick's business practices; then don't do business with them.
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|This is so stupid, okay FTC don't approve it. Don't get me wrong I want to Google to buy doubleclick because google always makes a service better, but hey if FTC is in bed Microsoft and does not want a better Internet then don't sell it, Google will continue to make innovation and money, and will grow its own doubleclick from scratch.
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|The petitioners are grossly mistaken(if not disingenious): Google will not maintain long-term data, and where it is offering to save it, that will be an opt-in, extra benefit/feature offered.
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|I think this is a porn issue.
When "the decider" is listening to you order chinese take out nobody cares.
When advertisers can track you going to MayonnaiseLovingCousinHumpers.com now THAT is a problem.
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|"The acquisition of DoubleClick will permit Google to track both a person's Internet searches and a person's web site visits,"
Has this not been true with AdSense, Analytics and the dozen other "insert this script onto your webpage" products they offer?
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|So Double-click is used by everyone, including microsoft. Microsoft attempted to buy them, google buys them out from under microsoft...Why weren't the privacy advocates protesting at the doors of double click the whole time???? IMO there should not be a problem other than the big problem. If both google and microsoft use the service, data is collected for them, they analyze it...what is the difference if they are a partner or owner? If there is a question of business practices, privacy advocate groups should have made a measurable effort against double click a long time ago.
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|When they are working as partner, doubleclick will only give data in summary and I dont think they will release all the raw information.
But whoever is the owner (Google or Microsoft) could get access to the raw data and combine with the other data that they already had from the Search Engine, Hotmail, etc.
There are some sites where both Google and Microsoft do not have ads except doubleclick. So by buying doubleclick, they will be able to know more about you. Your surfing habits :).
and of course, they will be able to show more targetted ads to you :P.
Dunno whether this is bad or good.
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