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US-IT-LIFESTYLE-ANTITRUST-FACEBOOK,LEAD
US states announce antitrust probe of Facebook
WASHINGTON, Sept 6, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – A coalition of US state officials
announced Friday they had launched an antitrust investigation of Facebook to
determine if the social media giant “has stifled competition and put users at
risk.”
New York state Attorney General Letitia James released a statement
announcing the action on behalf of seven other states and the District of
Columbia.
The move marks the first official US antitrust action against one of the
so-called Big Tech companies — although a landmark case had targeted
Microsoft back in the 1990s.
“Even the largest social media platform in the world must follow the law
and respect consumers,” James said.
“We will use every investigative tool at our disposal to determine whether
Facebook’s actions may have endangered consumer data, reduced the quality of
consumers’ choices, or increased the price of advertising.”
Joining the action were attorneys general of Colorado, Florida, Iowa,
Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, according to James.
Earlier this year, the US Justice Department said it would launch a
“review” of major online platforms to determine if they have stifled
innovation or reduced competition.
It was not immediately clear if the states would be working in
coordination with federal officials.
Facebook, by far the largest social network, in the past has claimed it is
not a monopoly and that consumers have many choices for how to connect with
people online.
BSS/AFP/RY/1912 hrs