Google's proposed acquisition of DoubleClick is anti-competitive and raises serious privacy concerns, says Microsoft's senior VP and general counsel.
The statement follows Friday's announcement by the online search company that it had agreed to purchase DoubleClick for $3.1 billion in cash from private equity firm Hellman & Friedman and JMI Equity and Management. It is understood this is the biggest acquisition the company has undertaken.
DoubleClick provides online advertising technology and services to over 1 500 clients, according to its Web site. This acquisition, said Google, will combine DoubleClick's expertise in ad management technology for media buyers and sellers, with Google's advertising platform and publisher monetisation services.
"The combination of Google and DoubleClick will offer superior tools for targeting, serving and analysing online ads of all types, significantly benefiting customers and consumers," said Google.
Microsoft - believed to have also bid for DoubleClick - opposes the deal.
A press statement posted on prdomain quotes the company's senior VP and general counsel, Brad Smith, as calling for intervention in the deal.
"This proposed acquisition raises serious competition and privacy concerns in that it gives the Google DoubleClick combination unprecedented control in the delivery of online advertising, and access to a huge amount of consumer information by tracking what customers do online. We think this merger deserves close scrutiny from regulatory authorities to ensure a competitive online advertising market."
Over the weekend, international media reported Yahoo and AT&T supported Microsoft's concerns.
Although the players have agreed to the acquisition, it is subject to customary closing conditions. This includes receiving approval from competition authorities.
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