Consumer Privacy Rights? Not in This Search Engine.
What would you do if you knew that a company had compiled a profile of your web browsing by using cookies, logging search terms, and monitoring which ads you click on? Google already does the first two and is now trying to seal the deal with the third. It’s reported that Google has been trying to acquire DoubleClick, Inc. A New York based company that helps customers create and track on-line advertising. The takeover will come with a price of $3.1 billion, not so bad considering that Google would then be able to monopolize on online advertising, as it is on the verge of doing with keywords. Consumer privacy advocacy groups in the US requested that the FTC look at how the takeover will give Google unprecedented access to consumer web browsing habits. Fears have also been raised that this takeover will hurt the diversity of content due to the fact that in order for a company to be credible it would have to be part of the Google network. As it is in the US, Google’s market share is roughly 47%. However, in Germany and Spain it already controls 90% of the market. Europe’s main consumer group BEUC has also voiced their concerns to the EU; saying that the takeover may damage the EU’s privacy rights. Google has yet to get approval from the EU for the takeover. Google’s response to all of the concerns over the pending takeover was that it “poses no risk to competition and should be approved”. So that friendly little search engine that we all rely on so heavily failed to mention anything about the possibility that consumers rights could possibly be infringed upon. So to you my friends watch your clicks because if Big Brother isn’t watching, you can count on Google.
Labels: Consumers Rights
