2 Sites Scale Back Use of DoubleClick

Two Web sites have pulled back from using DoubleClick, a leading Internet advertising agency, amid growing controversy over its use of private information about Web visitors. AltaVista confirmed Wednesday that it would no longer automatically release customer information to DoubleClick and other Web sites unless visitors “opt in,” or expressly give permission to AltaVista. Kozmo.com, a Web site that lets users rent videos and order food, said it stopped using DoubleClick last week as part of a decision to phase out advertisements on its site. The pullbacks come after amass questions over DoubleClick’s plans to confidential information about Internet users’ habits and identities, with the intent to sell it to advertisers. Shares of DoubleClick fell about 10%, or $8.25, to $80.56 on Nasdaq.