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Washington, D.C. -- – Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection Chairman Bobby L. Rush (D-IL), opened an investigation into the far-reaching privacy and competition issues raised by the proposed acquisition of DoubleClick Inc. by Google Inc. Chairman Rush wrote a letter to Federal Trade Commission Chairman Deborah Majoras, asking for a non-public briefing on that agency’s investigation, and announcing his intention to hold a hearing.
The text of Chairman Rush’s letter follows:
“There is widespread concern about the proposed merger between Google and DoubleClick that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) currently is reviewing. Concerns have focused not only on the implications for competition – in online advertising and other possibly affected markets – but also on the potentially enormous impact on consumer privacy. Consumer groups in the United States and Europe as well as the European Commission’s Article 29 Data Protection Working Party have expressed growing alarm over the implications for consumer privacy from the practices of these companies, especially if they combine. I share these concerns and am writing to notify you that the Subcommittee is considering holding a hearing when an appropriate date becomes available after the August District Work Period.”
“As you know from our recent work with the FTC on privacy legislation, the Subcommittee takes very seriously the protection of consumer privacy. Pursuant to our jurisdiction over interstate and foreign commerce and commercial practices, the Subcommittee also is looking into the proposed merger’s impact on competition. As Chairman of the Subcommittee, I therefore submit this written request for a non-public briefing on the FTC’s current investigation concerning the proposed Google/DoubleClick merger as well as similar proposed acquisitions.”
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