Is the big technology company going to break up? The U. S.
The Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission will look into the aggressive business practices of Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple, and the House Judiciary Committee has announced an unprecedented antitrust investigation that promises to be "oneto-
Bottom assessment of market forces for large technology platforms.
"In addition, at least two 2020 presidential candidates have expressed support for the dissolution of some tech giants because they are worried that they will become too strong.
Experts say it is unlikely to break up in the short term.
David Cicilline, a Rhode Island Democrat in charge of the House investigation subcommittee, said the measures were "last resort ".
But even without that, Facebook, Google, Amazon and Apple could face new power restrictions.
Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple declined to comment on the investigation.
Let's take a look at the cases that may be brought against them and their defense measures. FACEBOOKWith 2.
Facebook, which has 4 billion users and earned $56 billion last year, is synonymous with social media.
But is this illegal competition?
Break the monopoly?
Federal regulators are already investigating the company's privacy practices.
But antitrust issues continue to emerge in the context, with critics calling for the divestiture of WhatsApp and Instagram.
Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren has called for breaking the big tech company
Founder of Facebook
Former Vice President Joe Biden said he was open to the idea.
Critics argue that a break-up is necessary because Facebook can suppress competitors by acquiring them or using its vast resources to mimic the services they provide --
Like Snapchat, for example.
Facebook executives have been calling for regulation widely, although nothing can break it.
Nick Clegg, the company's vice president for global affairs, said in a recent statement that Facebook "accepts responsibility for success ".
But you can't enforce accountability by asking a successful American company to disband.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg has called for "new rules" in four areas: harmful content, election integrity, privacy and data portability ".
Facebook also stressed that it has competitors in information and digital communications, including Apple and Google.
Eleanor Fox, a law professor at New York University, said that since the anti-monopoly law focuses on companies with excessive price increases and Facebook is free, it will be one thing to split the business.
Facebook's share of the global digital advertising market is less than a quarter behind Google.
However, Warren has developed a legislative plan for companies with annual revenues of more than $25 billion.
This will limit their ability to expand their business and force some of their business to operate as separate entities.
Google has become a leading mail provider, search engine and advertising platform, and federal regulators are beginning to wonder if Google needs to be knocked down.
Critics say Google's dominance in search has allowed it to beat its rivals --
It is worth noting that Google can display its products on top of its competitors, or display its own advertisements in a prominent position.
Google may argue that it has no obligation at all to do business with its competitors --
Sandeep Vaheesan, legal director of the open market research institute, said that other companies put forward an argument in the face of similar challenges, which advocated breaking the monopoly.
This is Google's technology, which Google can use as much as it wants.
Google's approach to search and other smartphone products has also been reviewed.
Some people say that Google has imposed too much self.
Provide Regulatory Services to smartphone manufacturers using Google's Android operating system.
But Google may simply argue that Android users like Google's products and want them on their phones.
According to the existing law, it is difficult to prove that Google has monopoly power, "although I think many people think this is very obvious," Fox said . ".
Since its opening in 2008, Apple's Pioneer App Store has provided customers with instant access to entertainment, inspiration and engagement.
But it's also where Apple controls all access and sets commissions for subscriptions and other purchases made through the app.
If the investigation begins, the Justice Department is likely to focus on whether Apple is abusing its veto power and pricing capabilities to limit and deceive competition.
The commission it charges is also the subject of a consumer suit recently approved by the Supreme Court.
App manufacturers regularly claim that they are blocked because Apple wants people to use their services.
In a recent example, several app makers who manage children's time using the iphone said they were kicked out of the store shortly after Apple launched its own screen --
Management control.
Apple says it usually only blocks applications with vulnerability software or features that violate the privacy of users.
The company compares its rules to what products the merchant decides to carry.
Apple also said its stores include apps that compete with its products, including Google Maps and Google's Chrome browser.
Also criticised is Apple's 30% cut in new subscription signatures
Ups for the first year and renewal for 15%.
The App store is expected to generate about $16 billion in revenue this year.
Apple said the commissions paid for running the app store, including hiring people to review the app.
Antitrust regulators may try to make a request to lower Apple's commission, or in the worst case --
Case scenario, force it to peel off the app store.
However, the latter option could hurt consumers by making the iphone and other Apple products more cumbersome to use.
Daniel Ives, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, likened the breakup to a "complex and almost impossible Siam twin action ".
Amazon has grown from an online bookstore to a huge e-bookstore.
From Web hosting to streaming video to groceries, business players have tentacles.
The European Union's antitrust supervisor has carried out an early
Stage survey whether Amazon is using data to gain advantage on the third platform
Party merchants who are both customers and competitors.
Italy has been investigating whether Amazon has abused its dominance and offered preferential treatment to companies that use Amazon's own delivery service --
Management Services.
Congressman Cicilline said that Amazon has found best-selling products elsewhere, launched replicas under its own brand, and then guided customers to buy their own products, not those of competitors
In April, Warren tweeted that big tech companies like Amazon should be disbanded.
Amazon CEO and founder Jeff Bezos also presented a similar example in a recent letter to shareholders: "Amazon is still a small role in global retail today.
We represent a low order.
The digital percentage of the retail market, there are larger retailers in every country we operate.
This is largely due to the fact that nearly 90% of retail is still offline in physical stores.
But Amazon does dominate the Internet.
Market research firm eMarketer expects Amazon to account for 52% of all online sales in the United States. S.
This year, it is up from 48% last year. —————
AP writer may Anderson reports in New York
Michael lidek of Cupertino, California;
Matt O'Brien, Providence, Rhode Island
Joseph Pizani at Las Vegas contributed to the story.