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.

Affluent Upper East Side explodes in outrage over controversial homeless shelter: ‘Unacceptable!’

Trump threatens ‘consequences’ after 6 House Republicans voted to reverse his Canada tariffs

Illegal alien youth coach could face death penalty after allegedly murdering, raping teen player

Wild Exchange: Nadler Makes Mistake of Insulting Bondi, Triggering a Scorched Earth Response Where She Brings the Receipts on His Hypocrisy and ‘Gutter’ Behavior

Chinese criminal gang allegedly recruited Navy members for sham marriages and base access

Watch: Nadler Appears to Be Dead Asleep at Epstein DOJ Hearing – Same Hearing Where He Accused AG Bondi of Not Caring About Victims

GOP Senator Does Deep Dive on Trump Assassination Attempt and Remains Troubled by ‘Unresolved’ Questions

DHS unloads on anti-ICE Dems after man arrested with manifesto, ‘disturbing’ alleged plot to kill agents

Grand Jury Delivers Decision on Indictments for Democrats Known as the ‘Seditious Six’

Hispanic conservatives accuse House GOP hopeful of defrauding donors and activists

McConnell released from hospital after health scare, to work from home as key DHS vote looms

Democrats rip Bondi over handling of Epstein case in rowdy House hearing

Bondi has tense exchanges with lawmakers in first House hearing since confirmation

Exclusive: FBI captures longtime fugitive in Honduras in connection with 2000 killing of Philadelphia girl

Retail records could unmask potential subject in Nancy Guthrie case as experts reveal ‘clothing is evidence’

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.