Google faced more antitrust concerns on Tuesday as the European Union’s competition authority opened an investigation into whether the search giant favors its own digital advertising business over that of its competitors. Investigators will also look at whether Google restricts its rivals’ access to user data. The company made $147 billion from online ads last …
Read More »Tag Archives: antitrust
Apple and Google mobile ecosystem dominance under scrutiny by UK antitrust regulator
For many years, Google and Apple have been the two biggest and most dominant names in mobile ecosystems globally, but the UK’s competition regulator is now asking whether this duopoly is offering phone users the best deal. On Tuesday, the Competition and Markets Authority, the country’s antitrust regulator, announced that it is “taking a closer look” at iOS and Android. This …
Read More »AT&T to refocus on 5G as it unloads WarnerMedia
Just three years after it fought the Justice Department to complete its $85 billion purchase of media giant Time Warner, AT&T is selling off its entertainment business to drill back down on the basics and specifically on 5G. AT&T unveiled the change in strategy on Monday after it announced a $43 billion deal to sell its WarnerMedia assets to Discovery. The …
Read More »Apple says Epic’s Fortnite lawsuit is a marketing stunt to revive ‘flagging interest’ in the game
Fortnite is one of the most popular games ever made and soon will be one of the most litigated. Apple on Thursday submitted its description of its souring relations with Fortnite developer Epic Games to the US District Court in California, where the two companies will square off in a trial starting next month. In its filing, the tech giant argues …
Read More »Facebook reportedly considers hitting Apple with antitrust suit
Facebook may file an antitrust lawsuit against Apple, The Information reported Thursday, alleging that Apple abused its power through its App Store rules. The social network’s potential suit apparently says Apple forces outside developers to stick to rules that its own apps don’t have to follow. The report, much of which is behind the outlet’s paywall, cites anonymous sources and …
Read More »Parler loses bid to require Amazon to reinstate its account
Amazon doesn’t have to reinstate cloud hosting services for Parler, a judge ruled Thursday in a Seattle federal court. The ruling is a blow to Parler, a social media platform popular with right-wing extremists, which went offline earlier this month when Amazon Web Services suspended its account. Amazon said it took the action because Parler wasn’t moderating posts from users …
Read More »China reportedly readying antitrust probe into Google after Huawei prompt
China may launch an antitrust investigation into Google after Huawei alleged that the search giant’s use of its dominant Android operating system hurts competition, Reuters reported Wednesday. The Chinese State Council’s antitrust committee may decide on the probe next month, and the country’s relations with the US could be a factor, the news agency noted. The Trump administration has restricted …
Read More »Facebook may face FTC antitrust suit as soon as this year
The Federal Trade Commission is preparing a possible antitrust lawsuit against Facebook that could be filed as soon as the end of the year, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. The agency is examining Facebook’s dominant position in social media, sources told the newspaper. The case, part of a larger US antitrust investigation into tech companies, focuses on whether Facebook …
Read More »Apple Korea reportedly offers $84M to small businesses amid antitrust concerns
Apple’s South Korean branch has offered 100 billion won ($84.02 million) to support small businesses, in an effort to alleviate antitrust concerns, as previously reported by Reuters. The Korea Fair Trade Commission has been investigating allegations that Apple has been making carriers pay for advertising iPhones mobile devices and provide free repair services. The company has apparently agreed to address those …
Read More »Fortnite maker Epic’s battle with Apple and Google is about making them into villains
Epic Games put the billions of dollars it’s raked in from its hit Fortnite video game to some use, provoking Apple and Google to kick its title from their respective platforms, then blitzing them with a pair of lawsuits and an online video mocking the two tech giants. And in doing so, Epic drew the tech world’s attention to antitrust …
Read More »