For over 20 and 15 years Google and Facebook have ruled as the most dominant search tool/social media website for billions around the world. These global empires have a new challenger, one that looks to destroy it, Texas state Attorney General Ken Paxton. He has announced a joint state investigation into google over antitrust concerns, according to CNBC.
What We Know:
- There will be a bipartisan investigation into Google’s practices led by New York Attorney General Letitia James. 48 states’ attorney generals will look into the probe. California and Alabama are not involved. This will be over Google’s dominance in consumer data and the ad market.
The antitrust case against Google in a tweet. https://t.co/Hg4hdHCiQF
— Matt Stoller (@matthewstoller) September 9, 2019
- Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, a Republican stated “Is something really free if we are increasingly giving over our privacy information? Is something really free if online ad prices go up based on one company’s control?”
. @Basecamp CEO @JasonFried sounds off on $GOOGL advertising practices
“They own that platform and they can essentially weaponize it and sell your trademarked brands against you– it feels like it does tie into anti-trust issues.” pic.twitter.com/IcFlFE2QNU
— Squawk Box (@SquawkCNBC) September 6, 2019
- Google spokesperson stated they received requests for information from the Department of Justice about its business practices and expects “state attorneys general will ask similar questions.”, “We have always worked constructively with regulators and we will continue to do so,” Google said in a post. Facebook has declined to comment.
- The public in polls have continuously condemn these tech companies but still remains hooked on them.
Facebook agreed to give $5 billion in a settlement from the Federal Trade Commissions due to crossing the line with sharing personal information of users, according to the Wall Street Journal. It seems Google and Facebook may face a similar fate.
