Microsoft: Google’s DoubleClick acquisition raises serious competition and privacy concerns

Microsoft: Google’s DoubleClick acquisition raises serious competition and privacy concerns

It’s ironic that Microsoft has criticized the Google’s acquisition of the advertising company DoubleClick. Brad Smith, Microsoft senior vice president and general counsel has been quoted as saying: “This proposed acquisition raises serious competition and privacy concerns. We think this merger deserves close scrutiny from regulatory authorities to ensure a competitive online advertising market.”

Search engine giant Google is one of the largest players in the online advertising market and they managed to outbid Microsoft and Yahoo in acquiring DoubleClick for $3.1 billion.

The rivals are now urging the regulators to closely scrutinize this deal. Market analysts say that they fear that with this deal Google would get an unprecedented consolidation of power in the online advertising market.

Microsoft added that the DoubleClick deal would give Google access to a huge amount of information on consumer behavior on the Internet.

AT&T senior executive vice president of external and legislative affairs Jim Cicconi added: “If Google becomes the dominant force in terms of Web advertising and becomes the broker, that would be clear evidence of market power and dominant position.”