Reuters: EU court to rule on Google’s $2.8 billion EU antitrust fine on Nov. 10 – sources. “Europe’s second-top court will rule on Alphabet unit Google’s challenge against a 2.4 billion euro ($2.8 billion) EU antitrust fine on Nov. 10, the first of a trio of cases, people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.”
BNN Bloomberg: Biden to Name Google Foe Jonathan Kanter as DOJ Antitrust Chief. “President Joe Biden plans to nominate Jonathan Kanter as head of the Justice Department’s antitrust division, according to a White House official, the latest sign that the administration is preparing a broad crackdown on large technology companies.”
Ars Technica: Google delays in-app billing crackdown after wave of US antitrust lawsuits. “Earlier this month, Google was sued by dozens of state attorneys general over its Play Store policies. Just over a week later, the company is essentially delaying the enforcement of one of its most significant upcoming changes: a decree that all Play Store apps must use Google’s in-app billing or face a ban. Developers can now request a six-month extension to the deadline.”
BloombergQuint: Google Fined $593 Million By French Antitrust Agency. “Google was fined 500 million euros ($593 million) in France after the search giant failed to follow an order to thrash out a fair deal with publishers to use their news content on its platform.”
Brookings Institution: Facebook’s FTC court win is a much-needed wake-up call for Congress. “Three elements in the court decision bolster the case for change by revealing how US antitrust law as conceived and practiced today is unable to cope with the growing challenges of Big Tech. The many references in the opinion to ‘lawful monopolies’ underscore that current antitrust doctrine, a durable monopoly is not illegal. Indeed, current doctrine also encourages companies to treat the goal of a permanent lawful monopoly as an incentive to develop an attractive new technology or service.”
Engadget: 36 states launch antitrust suit against Google over the Play Store. “Politico reports 36 states and Washington DC have banded together to sue the company over its handling of the Play Store. They say Google’s control over the marketplace violates US antitrust law. The bipartisan group of attorneys general behind the suit filed the case in the same California federal court where Judge James Donato is scheduled to hire Epic’s suit against Google over Fortnite’s removal from the Play Store last year.”
Reuters: Exclusive: White House order pushes antitrust enforcement throughout U.S. economy. “The White House is working on an antitrust executive order that aims to push government agencies to consider how their decisions will impact competition in an industry, according to two sources familiar with the matter.”
Reuters: U.S. FTC sharpens weapons to tackle Big Tech by dropping ‘consumer welfare’ guidance. “The U.S. Federal Trade Commission lowered the bar on when it decides to file antitrust lawsuits on Thursday by scrapping a 2015 statement that said it would be guided by the ‘promotion of consumer welfare’ when looking at new investigations.”
Brookings Institution: The court’s Facebook decision shows why we need a digital regulatory agency. “A federal district court judge’s dismissal of the Federal Trade Commission’s antitrust lawsuit brought against Facebook is graphic evidence that antitrust laws are not sufficient to protect consumers and competition in the digital age. We need a regulatory plan that is more agile and timely than relying on antitrust enforcement as the principal solution.”
CNET: House Judiciary Committee debates antitrust legislation to rein in Big Tech. “The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday began debate on a series of bills aimed at reining in the power of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google and other tech giants. The first of the five bills advanced out of committee by early afternoon on Wednesday.”
Reuters: India’s antitrust watchdog orders probe into Google in smart TVs suit. “India’s antitrust watchdog on Tuesday ordered an investigation into allegations that Alphabet Inc’s Google abused its Android operating system’s position in the country’s smart television market.”
Reuters: Exclusive: Google’s adtech business set to face formal EU probe by year-end – sources. “Alphabet unit Google could face its biggest regulatory threat, with EU antitrust regulators set to open a formal investigation into its lucrative digital advertising business before the end of the year, said people familiar with the matter.”
The Asahi Shimbun: Apple, Google in government sights over antitrust issues. “Japan is moving to join global efforts to hold giant IT companies accountable for their dominance in key segments of the marketplace, specifically with regard to the use of operating software in smartphones. Google Inc. and Apple Inc. account for about 90 percent of all operating software installed on smartphones in Japan.”
Competition and Markets Authority (UK): CMA to scrutinise Apple and Google mobile ecosystems. “The CMA has launched a market study into Apple’s and Google’s mobile ecosystems over concerns they have market power which is harming users and other businesses.”
Mashable: 5 takeaways from 5 new antitrust bills aimed at Big Tech. “The bills need to pass in the House and Senate before President Joe Biden could sign them into law. And even with bipartisan support, getting all five of these bills passed will be an uphill battle. But considering Big Tech now spends more on lobbying in the U.S. than any other industry, the fact this legislation made it out of committee is huge. Here are five takeaways from the five bills.”
