IAB supports Google, DoubleClick in Senate's probe of their merger

Google and DoubleClick began facing the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 27 at a hearing titled "An Examination of the Google-DoubleClick Merger and the Online Advertising Industry: What Are the Risks for Competition and Privacy?"

The committee, which was announced last July, is investigating the $3.1 billion Google DoubleClick merger for consumer privacy, anti-competitive and anti-trust issues.

Illinois representative Bobby L. Rush (D), who is chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee subcommittee on consumer protection, announced the investigation in July. The hearings began September 27.

The Interactive Advertising Bureau has taken a stance to support consumer privacy online and to support the industry executives who appeared in court, including David Drummond, chief legal officer at Google and Brad Smith, general counsel at Microsoft.

The IAB and its members who include 24/7 Real Media, the Conde Nast Media Group, MSNBC, Facebook and MySpace have developed privacy best practices that inform the consumer with notice and choice.