[ad_1]
By Diane Bartz
<p class = "canvas-atom-canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Justice Department's antitrust division chief, Makan Delrahim, said Tuesday that its probes of big technology companies like Alphabet's Google
<p class = "canvas-atom-canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "Delrahim and Joe Simons, chair of the Federal Trade Commission, The Testimonial Committee's antitrust panel The Trump administration is in the early stages of investigating Google, Facebook
Senator Mike Lee, Republican and Subcommittee Chair, urged the agencies to share their opening remarks on their collaboration.
Reuters and others reported in June that the agencies had split companies, taking Justice Google and Apple, while the FTC taking Facebook and Amazon. The Justice Department later stated that it was opening an investigation on online platforms. This has led some industry observers to wonder if the two probes would overlap.
"According to the reports, it seems that your agencies may be conducting investigations into the monopolization of the same companies," Lee said in written remarks. "I do not think your agencies should divide some parts of a monopolization investigation from the same technology company."
Delrahim stated in his written testimony that the ministry had made the investigation a "priority". He added that the agency had opened an investigation into "market-leading online platforms" and indicated that the ministry had received complaints about "research, social media and some retail services. online ", a description that could include Facebook and Amazon.
Depending on where the evidence went, Mr. Delrahim said, "We could consider both law enforcement and policy options."
"We want new contributions not only from these market players, but also from members of Congress, especially this subcommittee," he said.
Simons of the FTC noted in his statement the agency's Facebook survey, which the company acknowledged in July. He added that the agency's technology working group "was operational and was actively investigating competitive activities in US technology markets".
Groups of attorneys general are also probing Facebook and Google, but the degree of coordination between the two agencies or between agencies and states is unclear.
Senator Marsha Blackburn, a Republican who has spoken openly about privacy online, should ask if a federal privacy law would act to stop the alleged abuses by big technology companies.
Senator Patrick Leahy, a Democrat, should ask if there are any safeguards to prevent President Donald Trump's White House from insisting that the antitrust be used for political purposes, according to a report. source close to Leahy's office.
Trump is a long-time critic of the CNN cable news channel, an AT & T unit, and the Justice Department has sued to prevent AT & T from buying Time Warner, the parent company. CNN, but was lost. Delrahim denied making decisions based on politics.
<p class = "canvas-atom-canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "In June, a group of senators asked the government if $ 26 billion merger of T-Mobile US Inc
Senators Democrats Amy Klobuchar and Cory Booker, who run for president and serve on the subcommittee, signed the letter, as did Senator Elizabeth Warren, who is also a Democratic nominee.
The Ministry of Justice approved the agreement, but states have taken legal action to stop it.
Klobuchar and Senator Richard Blumenthal may also question the legislation introduced in August to impose heavier penalties on companies that violate antitrust law.
(Diane Bartz's report, edited by Dan Grebler and David Gregorio)
[ad_2]
Source link