Google says DoubleClick purchase poses no antitrust problems

Google executives are dismissing antitrust concerns related to the company's plan to acquire online display ad company DoubleClick for $3.1 billion, which was announced on Friday. Over the weekend, Microsoft, AT&T and other companies said they would urge U.S. regulators to closely scrutinize the deal, which they allege would hurt competition in the online ad market.

In an e-mail to CNET News.com, Google spokesman Jon Murchinson said "We do not believe this acquisition is anticompetitive, as it promotes a vibrant, healthy market for online advertising." Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt told The New York Times: "We've studied this closely, and their claims, as stated are not true."

Meanwhile, consumer advocacy group Center for Digital Democracy is asking the Federal Trade Commission and the European Commission to halt the merger. "We are concerned about the growing consolidation of control within the digital advertising technology industry. Now, we have the number one online search advertising 'agency,' Google, swallowing up the leading provider of third-party display ads online. Google will have even more information about each of us and a vast new array of targeting and profiling technologies to boot," the group said in a statement. "We also most protect ourselves from permitting a handful of giants--such as a Google--to digitally shadow our every move online."

The group is asking European regulators to investigate because Google has operations worldwide and DoubleClick acquired Germany-based Falk last year.