Justice Department Prepares to Launch Antitrust Investigation into Google

According to recent reports, the U.S. Justice Department is preparing to launch an antitrust investigation into Alphabet Inc.’s Google.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the U.S. Justice Department is preparing to begin an antitrust investigation into Google that could see the tech giant come under a new wave of scrutiny from regulators. According to people familiar with the matter, the antitrust division of the Justice Department has been gathering information and preparing for the investigation for weeks.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which shares antitrust authority with the Justice Department, has previously conducted antitrust investigations into Google on a broader scale but closed the investigation in 2013 with no action taken. Google did, however, make some voluntary changes to some of its business practices as a result of the investigation.

The FTC and Justice Department have been discussing which group will oversee further antitrust investigations of Google, with the FTC agreeing to give the Justice Department full jurisdiction over Google. Now that an understanding has been reached between the two government bodies, the Justice Department is preparing to conduct an in-depth investigation into Google. It has yet to be revealed if the Justice Department has contacted Google in relation to the investigation.

Radical Muslim Kills Gay Pro-Palestine Activist Outside Gay Bar

WJ Straw Poll: Rubio Surges to Commanding Lead, Vance Cruises Past Massie

Alleged cryptoscam ringleader set for plea hearing in $240M bitcoin theft

Sherrill anti-ICE policy hammered after fleeing migrant driver injures Dem mayor’s wife

New California Bill Could Completely Disqualify Former ICE Agents from Public Employment

‘We’re Scared, Very Scared’: Weeping Spanish Girl Reveals Heartbreaking Reality of Mass Migration from Africa

Sen Jim Justice finds way through Senate polarization to bring WWII hero memorial to DC

Israel’s ambassador says NYC’s Mamdani is ‘sowing chaos’ ahead of Netanyahu’s UN appearance

Gary Sinise 9/11 documentary wants to inspire Americans with hope

Florida AG seeks death penalty for couple who allegedly held 4 children in ‘rolling prison’ for nearly 7 years

Former USCIS official, accomplice charged in alleged $960K citizenship bribery scheme

Dramatic video captures floodwaters bursting through glass doors of college students’ home

Trump appears to debut darker hair, sparking online buzz

Breaking: Deadly Amazon Cargo Plane Crash at Miami Airport Leaves 5 Dead

Amy Acton campaign says armed individual lunged at Ohio governor candidate, injuring multiple people

Those familiar with the matter stated that the Justice Department has been in contact with third-party groups that have been critical of Google in the past. The Wall Street Journal reached out to the Justice Department and Google for comment on the matter but did not receive a reply. The FTC declined to comment on the issue.

Breitbart News reported in March of this year that Silicon Valley giant Google has been fined $1.7 billion by the European Union for the company’s third breach of E.U. antitrust laws in three years. The latest fine against the company relates to Google’s AdSense advertising service and “illegal practices in search advertising brokering to cement its dominant market position,” according to European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager.

Vestager and her team concluded that third-party websites that sued Google to power their search and advertising features had “restrictive clauses in contracts” preventing them from hosting ads from rival search engines. In a press release, Vestager stated:

Today the Commission has fined Google €1.49 billion for illegal misuse of its dominant position in the market for the brokering of online search adverts. Google has cemented its dominance in online search adverts and shielded itself from competitive pressure by imposing anti-competitive contractual restrictions on third-party websites. This is illegal under EU antitrust rules. The misconduct lasted over 10 years and denied other companies the possibility to compete on the merits and to innovate – and consumers the benefits of competition.