The Interactive Advertising Bureau's comments came on the same day a Senate Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee examined the pending $3.1 billion Google-DoubleClick merger. The plan has spurred complaints from rivals like Microsoft as well as some high-tech watchdogs (See Technology Daily's PM edition for more).

"The interactive advertising industry is proud of its long-term commitment to the protection of consumer privacy and to the fundamental principles of relevancy, transparency and accountability," IAB President Randall Rothenberg said. Web ads are the "principal pillar that supports the delivery of free, rich Internet content, as well as free access to unparalleled products and services."

The 2006 IAB Internet Advertising Revenue Report showed Internet ad revenues reaching nearly $17 billion, a 35 percent increase over the same period from a year before. The surge continued an annual growth rate that has reached as high as 40 percent over the past three years.