Google's $3.1 billion cash purchase of DoubleClick has attracted FTC scrutiny, according to The New York Times. The story says:
The inquiry began at the end of last week, after it was decided that the Federal Trade Commission instead of the Justice Department would conduct the review, said the executive, who asked not to be identified because he had not been authorized to speak. The two agencies split the duties of antitrust enforcement.
The Electronic Privacy Information Center, a citizens rights organisation, the Center for Digital Democracy and the United States Public Interest Research Group filed a complaint that the takeover would "give one company access to more information about the Internet activities of consumers than any other company in the world." The EU also has privacy concerns.
It's probably good news for Google that the FTC is taking on the case, because it has a consumer focus. The FTC investigated both Microsoft and Intel without taking any significant action. However, it does mean that Google is now on the anti-trust radar screens, which could have repercussions down the line.
