October 15, 2007

EU Won't Review Privacy Problems in Proposed Google-DoubleClick Merger, Commissioner Says

Neelie Kroes, EU competition commissioner, has dashed the hopes of opponents of Google's £1.5bn takeover of online advertiser DoubleClick that she will investigate the transaction on privacy grounds. The commissioner, who has until October 26 to decide, has said: "We are looking at the influence on competition and that's it." Google's opponents argue that the merger will not only "tip" the online advertising market and make Google/DoubleClick a dominant supplier but also give it undue access to and control over consumer-provided information (CPI).

EU review of Google bid won't cover privacy issue, The Guardian (UK), October 15, 2007.

Posted by EPIC at October 15, 2007 11:11 AM