Facebook faces antitrust probe launched by regulators in eight states and D.C.

Facebook is the focus of an antitrust investigation being led by regulators from eight states and Washington, D.C., New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Friday.

“Even the largest social media platform in the world must follow the law and respect consumers,” Ms. James said in a statement.

Other regulators investigating Facebook for possible antitrust violations include the attorneys general of Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee and the District of Columbia, Ms. James added.

The probe will focus on Facebook’s “dominance in the industry and the potential anticompetitive conduct stemming from that dominance,” her announcement said.

Will Castleberry, Facebook vice president of state and local policy, said in a statement Friday that Facebook already faces competition on a number of fronts.

The House Judiciary Committee’s subcommittee on antitrust issues announced in June that its members would investigate potential antitrust violations on the part of major tech companies, including Facebook, and has since held related hearings on Capitol Hill.

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Author: Andrew Blake

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