TechnologyJustice Department Opens Antitrust Review of Big Tech Companies
Justice Department announces broad antitrust review of Big Tech
It’s separate from the Google and Apple investigations that were announced earlier
The Justice Department is opening a broad antitrust review into whether dominant technology firms are unlawfully stifling competition, according to department officials. Attorney General William Barr has asked how some Big Tech companies took shape ‘under the nose of the antitrust enforcers.’
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department is exploring whether to open a case against Google for potential antitrust violations, putting renewed scrutiny on the company amid a growing chorus of criticism about the power of Big Tech , three people with knowledge of the deliberations said Friday.
The Justice Department said on Tuesday that it would start an antitrust review into how powerful internet companies had accumulated market power and whether they had acted to reduce competition, in another threat to the growing power of America’s technology giants.

The Justice Department did not name specific companies in a news release announcing the review, but noted that it would look into concerns about search, social media and some retail services — presumably putting Google, Facebook and Amazon on notice.
FTC chief: Breaking up tech companies is 'messy,' but still doable
In an interview, Federal Trade Commission Chairman Joe Simons said it would be possible to undo past mergers.
The Justice Department will oversee antitrust complaints about Apple while the Federal Trade Commission will take on Facebook. The question of whether tech companies violate antitrust laws has long been the subject of academic debates and industry griping.
The U.S. Department of Justice is set to open open a broad antitrust review of big tech companies , separate from probes that were reportedly already underway, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal published Tuesday. The DOJ is reportedly launching the review based on "new
This latest review comes on the heels of the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission splitting up potential antitrust investigations into the three companies and Apple.
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Google and Facebook declined to comment. Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Apple referred to comments made by Tim Cook, the company’s chief executive, in a recent television interview.
“I think we should be scrutinized,” Mr. Cook said. “But if you look at any kind of measure about ‘is Apple a monopoly or not,’ I don’t think anybody reasonable is going to come to the conclusion that Apple’s a monopoly.”
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Bercy is considering an exceptional tax on large companies
The executive could temporarily increase the solidarity social contribution of companies of large groups, to offset the end of the tax to 3% on dividends.

A new tax for businesses is under study. The government is considering a temporary tax measure on large companies to compensate for the disappearance of the tax at 3% on dividends, censured by European justice, report Wednesday Les Echos and Le Figaro .
According to Le Figaro, the executive would think in particular "to temporarily increase the social solidarity contribution of companies (C3S) large groups", so as to recover nearly two billion euros per year. This surcharge "would be included in the draft Finance Act 2018 and would apply for three years". After which, "the measure would disappear", reports the daily.
"The idea is to tax large companies, since the bulk of the litigation comes from these", "several scenarios are under study," writes on his side the site of Echos, which states that these projects "worry the Medef ".
Medef worriedIn addition to a surcharge of C3S, the government could create "an additional slice for this tax" paid by large groups, or set up a "corporate tax surcharge for large companies", adds the newspaper.
The Court of Justice of the European Union rejected in May the 3% tax levied by France on the dividends distributed by the companies, judging the device contrary to European law.
This tax of 3%, set up by François Hollande in 2012 to compensate for a loss of budget revenues and encourage companies to reinvest their profits, brings about 2 billion euros per year to France.
U.S. House panel demands tech company emails in antitrust investigation.
U.S. House panel demands tech company emails in antitrust investigation
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