DOJ preparing antitrust probe into Google search and business practices, report says

The U.S. Department of Justice is reportedly preparing an antitrust investigation into Google's search and related business practices, with the probe coming years after the Federal Trade Commission closed its own probe into the internet giant with no tangible results.

Citing sources familiar with the matter, The Wall Street Journal reports the DOJ's antitrust division has spent weeks readying an investigation into Google's practices, particularly as they relate to internet search and "other businesses."

Not much is known about the potential DOJ probe beyond its existence. While third parties have spoken to department officials, it is unknown if the agency has contacted Google or notified it of the coming scrutiny.

The FTC previously looked into Google's operations with an eye on antitrust issues in 2011, but closed the investigation in 2013 with little to show for its efforts. As noted by the report, Google did voluntarily modify certain business practices to remain in good standing with the commission, though the changes were far from substantial reform.

According to the report, the DOJ and FTC recently discussed who would supervise a new inquiry into Google, with the commission deciding to cede authority to the Justice Department.

While the nature of the investigation remains unknown, a negative outcome for Google could leave the search giant saddled with onerous regulatory burdens.

Google and CEO Sundar Pichai have recently touted efforts to protect consumer privacy in an attempt to counter public perception that the company exploits user data for financial gain. That road appears to be an uphill path, however, as Google continues to leverage user information for its bread-and-butter advertising solutions.

32 Comments

claire1 510 comments · 6 Years

About 5 years ago

When will we punish Google for violating user privacy?

22july2013 3725 comments · 11 Years

I'm interested in knowing whether Google and similar companies (Twitter, Facebook, etc) are subject to election spending laws when they make an effort to filter in or out certain political views. If traditional media have to be subjected to spending laws, then should Google also be subject? I sincerely don't know, and I would appreciate clarity from DOJ. If Google filters out any particular political view, are they subject to treat such actions as political support expenses? If not, why should anyone else be subject to these laws? But if so, how is Google monitored for its bias? Do their filtering algorithms need to be examined by the government?

borps 28 comments · 6 Years

claire1 said:

When will we punish Google for violating user privacy?

Well Microsoft also got away with all the shit they did in the past, so my estimate is: never. They’re way to valuable contributors to the NSA’s total surveillance efforts.

chasm 3590 comments · 10 Years

claire1 said:

When will we punish Google for violating user privacy?

Um ... violating user privacy is their business model, so that's almost certainly not what the investigation will be about (except for instances of deliberately skirting existing laws protecting child privacy and such). It's likely more about a) times they violated their own rules, b) times they lied about something they were in fact doing, and/or c) their dirty business of funding pirate sites by using those sites to host advertising.

And that's just the first three things I could think of that they should be investigated for off the top of my head -- there's also their part in helping the Russians interfere with the last general election, and probably a hundred more things if I really sat down and thought about it.

22july2013 said:

If Google filters out any particular political view, are they subject to treat such actions as political support expenses?

There's no actual evidence that Google "filters" any particular political view. There are propaganda claims of this (about Google, about FB, about Twitter, et al), but no actual evidence that I'm aware of. What Google (and FB and Twitter) do do is block people who violate their rules/TOS repeatedly. Well, with one exception ...