40 AG's In Google Multistate Bipartisan Antitrust Investigation

[Marshallhoff02]

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/09/texas-attorney-general-leads-google-antitrust-probe.html

 

See also various releases from states DOJ

 

MADISON, Wis. – Attorney General Josh Kaul today announced that Wisconsin is joining 49 attorneys general in a multistate, bipartisan investigation of tech giant Google’s business practices in accordance with state and federal antitrust laws.

 

The bipartisan coalition, led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, announced plans to investigate Google’s overarching control of online advertising markets and search traffic that may have led to anticompetitive behavior that harms consumers. Legal experts from each state will work in cooperation with Federal authorities to assess competitive conditions for online services and ensure that Americans have access to free digital markets.

 

“The tech sector is an important part of the U.S. economy, and tech companies have access to a lot of personal information,” said Attorney General Kaul. “We must ensure that competition over technological innovation and privacy protections isn’t stifled.”

 

Past investigations of Google uncovered violations ranging from advertising illegal drugs in the United States to now three antitrust actions brought by the European Commission. None of these previous investigations, however, fully address the source of Google’s sustained market power and the ability to engage in serial and repeated business practices with the intention to protect and maintain that power.

 

https://www.doj.state.wi.us/news-releases/attorney-general-kaul-joins-49-attorneys-general-google-multistate-bipartisan

[Commodus]

Should update the headline (it's 50 AGs), but sounds like Google is in line for the kind of scrutiny it got in Europe.

[Taf the Ghost]

9 minutes ago, Commodus said:

Should update the headline (it's 50 AGs), but sounds like Google is in line for the kind of scrutiny it got in Europe.

Google has successfully pissed off more State AGs than the Tobacco industry did.

[MoonSpot]

11 minutes ago, Taf the Ghost said:

Google has successfully pissed off more State AGs than the Tobacco industry did.

Even after considering that sentence for several minutes, I'm still not sure how I feel about it beyond all avenues leading to scary places.

[Taf the Ghost]

17 minutes ago, MoonSpot said:

Even after considering that sentence for several minutes, I'm still not sure how I feel about it beyond all avenues leading to scary places.

There's a little bit of a historic legalism involved in the Tobacco case, mostly because a few State AGs did things separately. However, Google managed to convince everyone to hate on them. That's a solid achievement. 

 

More than likely some of Google's more questionable products have caught up state agencies across the country, and, as a result, a lot of factions have a strong interest in Google keeping their traps shut.

[Brooksie359]

1 hour ago, Taf the Ghost said:

Google has successfully pissed off more State AGs than the Tobacco industry did.

Well that's pretty crappy. At least Google didn't kill my grandfather at least I dont think. 

[Chett_Manly]

California not involved with the probe. 

 

I wonder why? Why would the "progressive" leftwing Government of CA, which constantly rails about these evil corporations, not be joining in with 48 other states against Google? 

[Commodus]

27 minutes ago, Chett_Manly said:

California not involved with the probe. 

 

I wonder why? Why would the "progressive" leftwing Government of CA, which constantly rails about these evil corporations, not be joining in with 48 other states against Google? 

I want to hear California's rationale before assuming that it's up to something sketchy.  The state hasn't been afraid to hit tech companies with regulation in the past.

[Suika]

1 hour ago, Commodus said:

I want to hear California's rationale before assuming that it's up to something sketchy.  The state hasn't been afraid to hit tech companies with regulation in the past.

I was under the assumption that it was California not wanting to give Google any reason to pack up and build shop somewhere else, given that Google alone is probably a really healthy amount of tax revenue for the state, but you've gotten me curious if it could be any other reason.

[Commodus]

49 minutes ago, Suika said:

I was under the assumption that it was California not wanting to give Google any reason to pack up and build shop somewhere else, given that Google alone is probably a really healthy amount of tax revenue for the state, but you've gotten me curious if it could be any other reason.

That's the thing.  It's easy to assume California is simply trying to court Google -- and it might well be, to be clear -- but I think we need more evidence before reaching that conclusion.  For all we know, it's preparing a separate investigation or lawsuit that just doesn't dovetail with what the other states are doing.

[Trik'Stari]

11 hours ago, Commodus said:

I want to hear California's rationale before assuming that it's up to something sketchy.  The state hasn't been afraid to hit tech companies with regulation in the past.

When it comes to government, always attribute to malice before stupidity.

[Guest]

Lets hope its not another slap on the wrist. I really hope google gets it right up there.