AltaVista and Kozmo.com have distanced themselves from Internet advertising network DoubleClick Inc. partly out of concerns about its handling of privacy issues.

Search engine AltaVista, a CMGI Inc. company, has limited the release of customer information to DoubleClick and other Web companies with which AltaVista has content partnerships, while Internet home-delivery service Kozmo is speeding up steps to end its partnership with DoubleClick, the Wall Street Journal said.

The moves are part of the fallout from consumer-privacy problems facing New York-based DoubleClick. Privacy activists charged the company's efforts to accumulate data about consumer Web-viewing habits are illegal.

The Federal Trade Commission recently began investigating the company's practices. Michigan sued the company, accusing it of violating the state's consumer protection law.

DoubleClick Chief Executive Kivin O'Connor said on Tuesday the company supports privacy advocates who want to end distribution of sensitive information such as that related to helath or children.

"We are getting industry support because they realise it's not about Double-Click but rather about the industry," O'Connor said.