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Editor: Matt Paines

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Another consumer group questions Google's DoubleClick deal

A European consumer rights group, Beuc, has questioned Google's proposed acquisition of DoubleClick on both competition and privacy grounds.

It has been reported that the organisation's director wrote to European Commissioner Neelie Kroes last week with reservations about the deal.

In the letter, Jim Murray apparently expressed concerns that the acquisition may have a negative impact on the selection of online content available to consumers and on privacy. He went on to say that it would mean that consumers would have no real ability to choose services other than those provided by Google.

The letter also indicated concerns about the impact of the deal on user privacy and Murray is reported as saying that the unprecedented and unmatched databases of user profiles will constitute significant and possibly insurmountable barriers to entry and they appear to be in clear violation of users' privacy rights.

The move by Beuc - which represents 40 consumer rights groups from 14 countries within the EU and is 45% funded by the European Commission - follows in the wake of the US Federal Trade Commission which is also set to investigate the deal. It was prompted to do so after rivals, including Microsoft and AT&T, complained that the deal would give Google too much power in the online advertising sector.

M.P

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