Facebook, Amazon, Google and Apple refute House Judiciary report suggesting Big Tech restraints

Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google are rebuking a House Judiciary Committee report from Democratic lawmakers that suggests Congress should pass legislation to rein in Big Tech.

In addition to proposing separations of some dominant tech platforms from the companies other businesses, the report also calls for the platforms to be required to offer equal terms for equal products and services for all users.

The report offers Congress a possible roadmap for action, potentially with a new balance of political power in Congress and a new president next year.

If such steps were mandated, they could bring the biggest changes to the tech industry since the federal governments landmark case against Microsoft almost 20 years ago.

The tech giants for decades have enjoyed light-touch regulation and star status in Washington, but have come under intensifying scrutiny and derision over issues of competition, consumer privacy and hate speech.

The investigation found, for example, that Google has monopoly power in the market for search, while Facebook has monopoly power in the social networking market.

The report said the four companies have abused their market power by charging excessive fees, imposing tough contract terms and extracting valuable data from individuals and businesses that rely on them.

The report also asks Congress to boost the enforcement powers of antitrust regulators, such as the Federal Trade Commission, and to increase the budgets of the FTC and the Justice Departments antitrust division.

Although the Judiciary antitrust subcommittees investigation was bipartisan, Republican lawmakers on the panel didnt sign on to most of the recommendations.

Facebook, Amazon and Apple also have been targets of sweeping antitrust investigations by the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission.

Original article
Author: Mike Snider

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