Companies like Google, Facebook, and several others have been under the microscope as of late, with government agencies finally catching up to the quickly evolving tech industry. With technology evolving right along with them, these tech giants have seemingly had free rein to do whatever they want with your data with impunity. Those wild west days seem to be over though, as the Justice Department is taking firm steps towards regulating an industry that has been borderline lawless for nearly a decade.
Justice Department Announces Antitrust Review
Announced in a press release on Tuesday, the investigation from Justice Department’s Antitrust Division will be taking a look at “whether and how market-leading online platforms have achieved market power.” The special division will reportedly aim to address concerns from consumers, businesses, and entrepreneurs about these potential competition-squelching practices on the part of big tech.
What Spurred This Investigation?
According to the press release, the DOJ is investigating these companies for potentially “engaging in practices that have reduced competition, stifled innovation, or otherwise harmed consumers.” And when you put it that way, it’s pretty hard to argue that these companies are in need of an investigation. Suffice it to say, the tech industry has been engaging in some pretty nefarious behavior for the last few years, and getting a little oversight — even broad oversight — is probably a good idea.
Are Tech Companies Trustworthy?
Tragically, these tech companies that are so engrained in everyday life have taken advantage of that, foregoing common sense practices like data protection and good-faith competition to get more of a professional advantage than they already have at the expense of everyday users. The DOJ’s investigation might not change that, or even yield meaningful results, but at least the tech industry knows that the days of making money without government oversight are numbered. Read more of the latest tech news on Tech.co
EU Takes Four Years to Fine Qualcomm Over Shady Chip DealingsIs CES Genuinely Ready to Talk About Sex and Tech?Apple Plans to Purchase 5G Modem Business From Intel
