Politico: California investigating Google for potential antitrust violations. “California has opened its own antitrust probe into Google, intensifying the pressure on the search giant already in the middle of investigations by the Justice Department and a host of other states, according to three people with knowledge of the inquiry.”
antitrust
Exclusive: Google can ward off EU antitrust probe into Fitbit deal with data pledge – sources (Reuters)
Reuters: Exclusive: Google can ward off EU antitrust probe into Fitbit deal with data pledge – sources. “Google may be able to stave off a full-scale EU antitrust investigation into its planned $2.1 billion bid for fitness tracker maker Fitbit (FIT.N) by pledging not to use Fitbit’s health data for its ads, people familiar with the matter said.”
BNN Bloomberg: Europe’s Failure to Tame Google’s Dominance Is a Lesson for U.S.
BNN Bloomberg: Europe’s Failure to Tame Google’s Dominance Is a Lesson for U.S.. “As U.S. authorities ready the biggest antitrust case of the new century, there are lessons to be learned from Europe’s attempt to inject more competition into search, one of the most lucrative digital markets. Two years after a record fine and an order to give Europeans more choice, Alphabet Inc.’s Google retains a vice-like grip on this business. In May 2018, just before the European Commission acted, Google had 97% of the mobile search market in the region, according to StatCounter. Its share for May this year was even higher.”
Reuters: U.S. and States’ Google Antitrust Probe Nears Finish Line
Reuters: U.S. and States’ Google Antitrust Probe Nears Finish Line. “The U.S. Justice Department is seeking the final documents to complete an antitrust investigation of Alphabet Inc’s Google , said three sources familiar with the probe, which is expected to end with a lawsuit this summer.”
New York Times: Barr’s Interest in Google Antitrust Case Keeps It Moving Swiftly
New York Times: Barr’s Interest in Google Antitrust Case Keeps It Moving Swiftly. “The day-to-day digging of a federal antitrust investigation rarely rises to the level of the attorney general or the deputy attorney general. But under Mr. Barr, the agency has made top priority of looking into the country’s biggest tech companies. He receives regular updates on the Google case from an aide, according to several people close to the investigations, while an official in the office of his deputy, Jeffrey Rosen, oversees the investigations into tech companies.”
New York Times: Facebook Loses Antitrust Decision in Germany Over Data Collection
New York Times: Facebook Loses Antitrust Decision in Germany Over Data Collection. “In a decision that could further embolden European governments to take on large tech platforms, Germany’s top court ruled on Tuesday that Facebook had abused its dominance in social media to illegally harvest data about its users.”
Justice Dept, state AGs to meet Friday on Google antitrust probe: source (Reuters)
Reuters: Justice Dept, state AGs to meet Friday on Google antitrust probe: source . “U.S. Justice Department officials and some state attorneys general are set to meet on Friday to discuss ongoing antitrust probes into Alphabet Inc’s Google unit, a person briefed on the matter said.”
Reuters: EU antitrust regulators set July 20 deadline for Google, Fitbit deal
Reuters: EU antitrust regulators set July 20 deadline for Google, Fitbit deal. “EU antitrust regulators will decide by July 20 whether to clear Alphabet Inc-owned Google’s $2.1 billion bid for fitness trackers company Fitbit, a deal that has prompted concerns from consumer groups and privacy advocates. Google sought EU approval on Monday, according to a filing on the European Commission website.”
CNN: Facebook hit by antitrust scrutiny after buying a site for GIFs
CNN: Facebook hit by antitrust scrutiny after buying a site for GIFs. “The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority announced Friday it was looking into whether Facebook’s recent acquisition of Giphy ‘may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the United Kingdom for goods or services.'”
CNET: EU to hit Amazon with antitrust charges over treatment of third-party sellers, report says
CNET: EU to hit Amazon with antitrust charges over treatment of third-party sellers, report says . “The European Union is preparing to file antitrust charges against Amazon over the e-commerce giant’s treatment of third-party sellers on its site, according to a report Thursday from The Wall Street Journal. The European Commission, the union’s top antitrust regulator, could file official charges as early as next week, according to the Journal.”
Reuters: U.S. states lean toward breaking up Google’s ad tech business – CNBC
Reuters: U.S. states lean toward breaking up Google’s ad tech business – CNBC . “The U.S. state attorneys general investigating Alphabet Inc’s (GOOGL.O) Google for potential antitrust violations are leaning toward pushing for a breakup of its ad technology business as part of an expected suit, CNBC reported on Friday, citing sources.”
BNN Bloomberg: Google search a target of U.S. antitrust probes, rival says
BNN Bloomberg: Google search a target of U.S. antitrust probes, rival says. “U.S. federal and state authorities are asking detailed questions about how to limit Google’s power in the online search market as part of their antitrust investigations into the tech giant, according to rival DuckDuckGo Inc. Gabriel Weinberg, chief executive officer of the privacy-focused search engine, said he has spoken with state regulators, and talked with the U.S. Justice Department as recently as a few weeks ago.”
Exclusive: Google faces antitrust case in India over payments app – sources (Reuters)
Reuters: Exclusive: Google faces antitrust case in India over payments app – sources. “India’s antitrust body is looking into allegations that Alphabet Inc’s Google is abusing its market position to unfairly promote its mobile payments app in the country, five sources familiar with the case told Reuters.”
New York Times: Why All the Shouting About Google?
New York Times: Why All the Shouting About Google?. “You may have seen (or ignored) a gazillion articles about the U.S. government preparing to sue Google for possibly being an illegal monopoly.This is going to get weird. So here’s what you need to know about this tussle, and why normal humans should care.”
Justice Department, state attorneys general poised to hit Google with antitrust lawsuits: report (MarketWatch)
MarketWatch: Justice Department, state attorneys general poised to hit Google with antitrust lawsuits: report. “The Justice Department and a group of state attorneys general may file antitrust lawsuits against Alphabet Inc.’s Google as soon as this summer, according to a Wall Street Journal report that published Friday afternoon and cited people familiar with the matter.”
