Is Google perhaps violating antitrust law after all?
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has launched a preliminary antitrust investigation into Google's acquisition of DoubleClick. The investigation began late last week.
The US Federal Trade Commission has launched a preliminary antitrust investigation into the takeover of Doubleclick by Google. The investigation began at the end of last week. Antitrust experts expect a decision from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in a few weeks as to whether the investigations will be further intensified, according to a press release from Pressetext Switzerland. Google is convinced that the deal will work out.
The purchase of DoubleClick in mid-April brought both data protectionists and competitors such as Microsoft onto the scene, who filed a complaint against the deal with the FTC. Google stores the search terms entered by users, while DoubleClick tracks which websites users visit. Combining this data would give one company, more than any other, access to more information about consumers' internet activity, the complainants argue.
The purchase of DoubleClick in mid-April brought both data protectionists and competitors such as Microsoft onto the scene, who filed a complaint against the deal with the FTC. Google stores the search terms entered by users, while DoubleClick tracks which websites users visit. Combining this data would give one company, more than any other, access to more information about consumers' internet activity, the complainants argue.
