With Google/DoubleClick Approved, is Privacy Dead?
By Sean Gallagher December 21, 2007 Analysis: The Federal Trade Commission’s decision to approve Google’s acquisition of DoubleClick without conditions runs counter to the warnings of a host of privacy and consumer advocates, as well as members of Congress. With a single dissenter, the FTC found that there was no cause to hold up the merger. At the outset of the merger, the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), the Center for Digital Democracy, and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group filed a complaint, claiming “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,” and that “Google will operate with virtually no legal obligation to ensure the privacy, security and accuracy of the personal data that it collects.” But the FTC has rejected those concerns, stating that they are not unique to Google and Doubleclick. “At the outset, we note that some have urged
