New York Leading Antitrust Investigation Into Facebook, AG James Says
Aside from operating one of the largest social media networks in the world, Facebook also owns several other digital platforms, such as the photo-sharing platform Instagram and private communication application WhatsApp.
September 06, 2019 at 11:52 AM
3 minute read
Social media giant Facebook is being investigated for possible antitrust violations by state attorneys general from eight states and Washington, D.C., New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Friday morning.
The investigation, led by New York, follows the launch of a probe into Facebook over the same issue by the Federal Trade Commission, the company confirmed in July.
The federal agency had previously approved a fine of $5 billion against Facebook earlier this year for allegedly mishandling the personal data of its users, including when that information was exposed to political analysis firm Cambridge Analytica during the 2016 elections.
James said it was that kind of exposure, coupled with Facebook's massive footprint in the realm of social media, that encouraged the inquiry.
"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," James said.
Facebook did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the investigation.
It's unclear, at this point, whether the probe is at all related to the investigation from the FTC, which Facebook revealed in a report to shareholders earlier this year. The U.S. Department of Justice has also announced its own antitrust review of market-leading online platforms.
Attorneys general from Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, and Washington, D.C. are also part of the investigation, which is focused on whether Facebook's dominance in digital media has stifled competition in the industry.
Aside from operating one of the largest social media networks in the world, Facebook also owns several other digital platforms, such as the photo-sharing platform Instagram and private communication application WhatsApp.
Facebook, and other social media companies, have recently been the subject of strict scrutiny from state and federal officials, many of which have advocated for breaking up the tech giants. The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee's Antitrust Subcommittee is scheduled to hold a hearing on competition among digital platforms later this month.
Texas State Attorney General Ken Paxton is also said to be preparing to announce his own probe into Google's impact on digital advertising markets, according to a report Friday morning from the Wall Street Journal. Representatives for Paxton did not immediately confirm the inquiry.
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