United States Justice Department Launching Antitrust Review of Major Tech Companies

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DOJThe United States Justice Department is launching a broad antitrust review into whether major technology companies are unlawfully stifling competition, reports The Wall Street Journal.

The DoJ will reportedly be examining the practices of online platforms that "dominate internet search, social media and retail services," which will involve Facebook, Google, Amazon, and Apple.

The Justice Department will examine issues including how the most dominant tech firms have grown in size and might--and expanded their reach into additional businesses. The Justice Department also is interested in how Big Tech has leveraged the powers that come with having very large networks of users, the officials said.

The antitrust review will seek "extensive input and information" from industry participants and, eventually, the tech firms themselves.

There is no defined goal for the investigation other than to determine whether there are antitrust problems that need addressing, but DoJ officials said that a "broad range of options are on the table." Other company practices that ultimately raise concern about compliance with laws also won't be ignored.

This investigation is separate from a rumored Google probe that will look at whether Google has engaged in unlawful monopolization practices.

The FTC and a House antitrust subcommittee have also been investigating anticompetitive conduct among major tech companies, and last week, executives from Facebook, Google, Apple, and Amazon testified before Congress.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Top Rated Comments

az431 Avatar
51 months ago
Apple in hot water?
Amazing that you read the entire article and that was your takeaway.
Score: 52 Votes (Like | Disagree)
hagjohn Avatar
51 months ago
Call me crazy, but this probably has more to do with conservatives believing that big tech is out to get them, than anything anti-trust related.
Score: 38 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tgwaste Avatar
51 months ago
They should just ban Facebook so that conservatives can't spread anymore fake news!
Ya, because facebook screams conservative. lol
Score: 38 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mozumder Avatar
51 months ago
They should just ban Facebook so that conservatives can't spread anymore fake news!
Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)
busyscott Avatar
51 months ago
They should just ban Facebook so that conservatives can't spread anymore fake news!
Ya, like how conservatives spread that fake news story this week about Fox News not broadcasting the Mueller testimony!

Oh wait...
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tgwaste Avatar
51 months ago
Call me crazy, but this probably has more to do with conservatives believing that big tech is out to get them, than anything anti-trust related.
I think you're lost. As a conservative we love big tech.. big companies.. power in the hands of people and companies rather than government.

I think you're confusing us with the other guys.
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)