The U.S. Department of Justice opened a sweeping antitrust investigation of big technology companies and whether their online platforms have hurt competition, suppressed innovation or otherwise harmed consumers. ADVERTISEMENTPresident Donald Trump also has relentlessly criticized the big tech companies by name in recent months. The focus of the investigation closely mirrors a bipartisan probe of Big Tech undertaken by the House Judiciary subcommittee on antitrust. Major tech companies already facing that congressional scrutiny declined to comment on the Justice Department’s probe. But Hovenkamp says U.S. antitrust law is broad enough for regulators to consider the potential damage wrought by relatively small deals, too.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer July 23, 2019 21:56 UTC