Antitrust regulators are reported by Bloomberg news service (opens in new tab) to be seeking sworn statements from Google’s (opens in new tab) competitors and advertisers as they continue to investigate the the Internet giant’s proposed $750 million deal to buy AdMob (opens in new tab).
Consumer Watchdog and the Center for Digital Democracy (opens in new tab) called on the Federal Trade Commission (opens in new tab) last December to block Google’s acquisition of the mobile advertising company on antitrust grounds. We said the deal raises privacy concerns as well. (opens in new tab)
Bloomberg, citing people with "direct knowledge of the situation," said at least two companies are being asked to sign statements.
When the FTC asks for sworn statements, it’s a sign the commission’s staff is serious and is contemplating recommending litigation. Bloomberg put it this way:
Agency officials typically collect declarations “when they think there is some significant chance” the agency will ask a court to block a merger, or seek to modify a deal, said Stephen Calkins, a former general counsel at the FTC who is now a professor of law at Wayne State University’s law school in Detroit.
Add this news from the FTC to the Justice Department’s (opens in new tab) strong position opposing the proposed Google Books settlement, and it seems the nation’s trustbusters have developed real spine and are finally acting in the interest of consumers.
