The FT article reports on a US lawsuit against Google over its digital advertising dominance, citing Google's 2008 acquisition of DoubleClick as a contributing factor. The acquisition helped create an ecosystem that locks in market participants and consolidates corporate power, raising concerns about anti-competitive practices that can undermine democratic structures.

The Department of Justice’s antitrust investigation into Google may shift its focus away from DoubleClick, potentially allowing the digital advertising platform to avoid stringent regulatory scrutiny. This development raises concerns about unchecked corporate power and a form of regulatory capture that undermines public accountability.

The IvyPanda report details multiple controversies involving DoubleClick, including privacy violations via intrusive cookie tracking, unethical practices like fraudulent advertising and deceptive privacy policies, and regulatory non-compliance evidenced by pending lawsuits and FTC complaints.

On March 2, 2000, a coalition of human rights organizations including the ACLU, GLAAD, and others, filed a statement with the FTC demanding immediate action against DoubleClick. The filing critiqued DoubleClick’s data collection practices through its Abacus Online Alliance, alleging that personal data (including sensitive information related to sexual orientation and health status) was being improperly collected and used without explicit user consent.