Google facing huge antitrust probe in US

(Image credit: Future)

An antitrust probe has been formally opened into Alphabet's Google by attorneys general from the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and every US state except for California and Alabama as US government officials look to rein in the country's tech giants.

The probe is being led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton who says it will focus on the search giant's “overarching control of online advertising markets and search traffic that may have led to anti-competitive behavior that harms consumers”. If this sounds at all familiar, that is because the EU fined Google €1.49bn for blocking rival online search advertisers earlier this year.

At the announcement in Washington, states participating in the probe asked Google to provide documents on its advertising business. Several attorneys general in attendance noted that the investigation was “preliminary” though they expect it to expand to cover other issues including data privacy.

At the same time, a different group of eight state attorneys general, led by New York, announced last week that they were beginning their own investigation into Facebook.

Google antitrust probe

The basis of the antitrust probe into Google is built around accusations that its web search leads consumers to its products over that of its rivals, causing them to loose business. Complaints of potentially anti-competitive behavior have also been made about how the company runs the advertising side of its business.

Back in 2013, the FTC concluded an investigation into Google declaring that the company did not manipulate its search results to hurt rivals. However, at that time, the company also agreed to end the practice of scraping where it misappropriated competitor's content to use as its own.

At the end of last month, the Department of Justice requested information and documents from Google related to previous antitrust probes of the company. Alphabet said that it is cooperating with federal regulators as well as with the antitrust probe from the states.

The idea of breaking up tech giants has grown in popularity among US lawmakers who feel that these companies have too much control over the data and everyday lives of citizens. The antitrust probe into Google will likely take some time to be completed but if successful, we could see the US government go after the likes of Amazon, Apple and other tech giants just as it did to Microsoft in 2001.

  • Protect your privacy online with the best VPN services of 2019

Via Reuters

TOPICS
Anthony Spadafora

After working with the TechRadar Pro team for the last several years, Anthony is now the security and networking editor at Tom’s Guide where he covers everything from data breaches and ransomware gangs to the best way to cover your whole home or business with Wi-Fi. When not writing, you can find him tinkering with PCs and game consoles, managing cables and upgrading his smart home. 

Latest in Pro
Squarespace
Build a website for less with 10% off Squarespace subscriptions
UK Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer
UK PM says AI should soon replace civil servants
Image depicting hands typing on a keyboard, with phishing hooks holding files, passwords and credit cards.
Microsoft warns about a new phishing campaign impersonating Booking.com
An image of network security icons for a network encircling a digital blue earth.
Why effective cybersecurity is a team effort
Computer Hacked, System Error, Virus, Cyber attack, Malware Concept. Danger Symbol
Meta warns of worrying security flaw hitting open source type software
Hand holding smartphone and scan fingerprint biometric identity for unlock her mobile phone
Biometrics add another layer of security to passwordless authentication
Latest in News
A graphic of the PC Gaming Show
Get ready for a bounty of PC games on June 8, as the PC Gaming show is back
NordicTrack Ultra 1
The new NordicTrack Ultra 1 treadmill looks like it was designed by an architect and costs $15,000
An Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070
Nvidia RTX 5080 stock is so barren that retailers are holding competitions where you can "win" the right to buy one for MSRP
Assassin's Creed Shadows
Ubisoft shareholder accuses publisher of 'misleading investors', plans protest outside Paris HQ
Google Gemini AI logo on a smartphone with Google background
I made an AI version of Bilbo Baggins using Goggle Gemini for free, and shared a pipe with him outside Bag End – here’s what you can now do with Gems
Nicole Kidman wears a blue blouse with her arms crossed.
Netflix might be renewing The Perfect Couple and Beauty in Black for season 2, but I don’t get why when it’s canceled shows with poorer ratings