The Google/DoubleClick deal isn't only being opposed by Microsoft and AT&T - privacy advocacy groups are now protesting the merger.
The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), the Center for Digital Democracy (CDD) and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG) have all sent in requests to the FTC to begin an investigation looking further into Google's acquisition of DoubleClick. There are several reasons surrounding privacy matters that these groups are against the Google deal, saying that it would create privacy risks and violate the previously agreed upon standards for online advertising conduct. While Google has announced its plan to integrate its non-personally identifiable data with DoubleClick's, questions have been raised regarding the legal ability to do this, even after the acquisition. Furthermore, issues regarding the amount of time that Google saves search data is coming into question.
The manner in which data is being collected, used and kept are the main points of discussion regarding the privacy advocacy groups' campaign against Google's deal with DoubleClick. In essence, they don't want the data, or the practices, to be combined. One of Google's latest feature releases is a more personalized save option for Google users' search history and recommended searches. Google is also in the process of acquiring Marratech and Tonic Systems.