‘The era of self-regulation is over:’ Congress launches antitrust probe into Google, Facebook

WASHINGTON – Monday’s announcement that the House Judiciary Committee will conduct a “top-to-bottom” investigation into Facebook, Google and other tech giants over antitrust issues is the latest headache for Silicon Valley.

“Unwarranted, concentrated economic power in the hands of a few is dangerous to democracy – especially when digital platforms control content,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., tweeted Monday. “The era of self-regulation is over.”

Unwarranted, concentrated economic power in the hands of a few is dangerous to democracy – especially when digital platforms control content. The era of self-regulation is over.

— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) June 4, 2019

The committee said it is concerned that a handful of companies wield “extraordinary power over commerce, communication, and information online,” and have claimed an unfair competitive advantage in the market.

“The growth of monopoly power across our economy is one of the most pressing economic and political challenges we face today,” Rep. David N. Cicilline, D-R.I., who chairs the panel’s antitrust subcommittee, said in a statement. 

“After four decades of weak antitrust enforcement and judicial hostility to antitrust cases, it is vital for Congress to step in to determine whether existing laws are adequate to tackle abusive conduct by platform gatekeepers or if we need new legislation,” Cicilline said,

News of the congressional actions comes as Big Tech faces scrutiny from other federal corners.

The four dominant social media network (Photo: Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/Snapchat)

The Justice Department is gearing up for an antitrust investigation of Google set to examine the search giant’s internal practices and search rankings, according to a Wall Street Journal report last week.

The newspaper also reported that the Federal Trade Commission might launch an investigation into Facebook.

New probes by federal investigators would be the latest in a string of regulatory looks at Google’s search and advertising practices along with the tech firm’s negative impact on competitors. 

The FTC sued Google in 2011 over allegations that the tech company misrepresented its use of tracking cookies to users of the internet browser Safari. Google settled the case, agreeing to pay a $22.5 million fine. 

Pelosi video: Facebook isn’t deleting the fake Pelosi video. Should it?

Social media, particularly Facebook, has been the target of Democrats’ ire following the 2016 election where Russia was able to manipulate Facebook in an effort to help Donald Trump win the White House, according to the Mueller Report.

Recently, Democrats – including Cicilline – were incensed that Facebook refused to take down a doctored video of Pelosi, that made it seem she was impaired and slurring her words.

Potentially worrisome for tech firms is that the House probe has the backing of Republicans as well as Democrats.

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“As tech has expanded its market share, more and more questions have arisen about whether the market remains competitive,” said Georgia Rep. Doug Collins, the top GOP lawmaker on the Judiciary Committee. “Our bipartisan look at competition in the digital markets gives us the chance to answer these questions and, if necessary, to take action.”

Contributing: Dalvin Brown

Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/06/03/google-facebook-others-big-tech-face-congressional-antitrust-probe/1334586001/

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