Unfortunately (or fortunately) I’m much too busy right now to comment in detail on Google’s acquisition of DoubleClick, especially in light of the bad track record DoubleClick has in terms of user privacy online (Philipp Lensenn has a good archive of their privacy troubles).
But one mention at the very end of Google’s FAQ (PDF) about the acquisition caught my eye:
Q. What are Google’s plans regarding privacy in the future?
A. Google has a history of being an advocate for user privacy. We continue to develop technologies that improve privacy for internet users. With this acquisition, we will be able to more broadly deploy and improve privacy enhancing technologies for users. We are committed to transparency for end users, and to respecting the choices they make with regards to their privacy preferences.
Since when is DoubleClick associated with “privacy enhancing technologies”?
UPDATE: Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), the Center for Digital Democracy (CDD) and the U.S. Public Interest Research Groups (U.S. PIRG), are asking the FTC to stop the merger until the trade commission investigates Google’s data collection and storage practices, orders DoubleClick to sweep out its data storehouse and requires the search giant to offer a public plan for safeguarding consumer privacy. More at CNet.
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