{"articles":[{"reaction_config":[{"text":"Yes","color":"#624960","stance":"yes"},{"text":"Maybe","color":"#edb723","stance":"maybe"},{"text":"No","color":"#4ac6ec","stance":"no"}],"id":34142,"title":"50 States and Territories Open Joint Antitrust Investigation Into Google","html_content":"

by Axios | 9.10.19

Attorneys general of 50 states and territories on Monday formally announced a joint, bipartisan antitrust investigation into Google, the Washington Post reports.

Why it matters: The move by the states and territories represents a new, wide-ranging front in the government-led assault on Google's power. It also means that even if parallel probes by the Department of Justice and Congress fizzle out, some even more aggressive state prosecutors could carry on the fight.

Details: The investigation, led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, will determine if Google's online dominance stifles competition in the online advertisement industry. California and Alabama are the only 2 states that have not joined the investigation.

What they're saying: Paxton said during a press conference outside the U.S. Supreme Court building that the investigation is \"to determine the facts. Right now it's about advertising, but the facts will lead where they lead.\"

The big picture: The attorneys general investigation adds yet another layer of scrutiny on Big Tech. Google, Facebook and Amazon have historically enjoyed wide regulatory freedom in the U.S., but are now facing numerous state and federal probes into their practices.

Go deeper: The full and growing list of U.S. government inquiries into Big Tech

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Won’t listen to slogans, chanted mantras or generally any kind of marketing spin or “rebranding” crap. I firmly believe that everyone else is entitled to their erroneous opinions. Citizen vigilance and due diligence is price we must pay to live in a thriving, functional democracy.\nI fear that our citizens are too easily swayed by politician’s pablum about “babies”, “jobs” and now, in particular, perceived “enemies”. I fear that a citizenry focused on the “here-and-now” is easily tricked by short term benefits that have negative long-term consequences. I fear that our legislators are more concerned about buffing their constituents than looking out for the long-term welfare of our country- and are way too eager to provide those short-term benefits to the “here-and-now” crowd.\nI fear that honor is generally being sacrificed/replaced by expediency. I hear politicians eloquently argue for one side of an issue and later, when it’s to their benefit, just as eloquently argue for the opposite side. OK, so they are good at arguing- but what is that they actually believe? What is it that they actually stand for? An honorable person has values that persist even when it is not convenient or expedient. An honorable person has a moral compass that stops them from doing something wrong even if it is not illegal. A foul is a foul- even if the referee doesn’t catch you.\nI fear that each of our federal governmental branches have devised or discovered shortcuts which tend to protect them from the checks and balances our founders intended.","twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":"jimk","issue_count":4,"is_following":null,"influence_score":44850,"influence_level":40,"follower_count":1529,"following_count":81,"position_count":539,"id":"9odrQBnb","partner_id":null},{"name":"Helen","vote_count":5,"photos":{"large":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/default-2.png","small":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/default-2.png","tiny":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/default-2.png"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/mpnxwM7E/following","followers":"/api/users/mpnxwM7E/followers"},"about_me":null,"twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":null,"issue_count":19,"is_following":null,"influence_score":0,"influence_level":0,"follower_count":0,"following_count":4,"position_count":1,"id":"mpnxwM7E","partner_id":null},{"name":"Russell","vote_count":1,"photos":{"large":"https://graph.facebook.com/3004888069583282/picture?width=150&height=150","small":"https://graph.facebook.com/3004888069583282/picture?width=75&height=75","tiny":"https://graph.facebook.com/3004888069583282/picture?width=20&height=20","facebook":"https://graph.facebook.com/3004888069583282/picture"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/m46p3L5X/following","followers":"/api/users/m46p3L5X/followers"},"about_me":null,"twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":null,"issue_count":0,"is_following":null,"influence_score":0,"influence_level":0,"follower_count":0,"following_count":0,"position_count":0,"id":"m46p3L5X","partner_id":"61e33f53-ad83-4cb5-b66e-89595868e257"}],"article_comment":{"flagged":false,"id":1025868,"body":"I’m all for an investigation into Google’s online advertising dominance. Their market share is way above any other company and only growing larger. ","parent_type":"Article","parent_id":34142,"created_at":"2019-09-10T16:08:13.429Z","liked":false,"like_count":5,"links":{"self":"https://www.causes.com/comments/1025868","likers":"https://www.causes.com/api/v1/likers?likeable_id=1025868&likeable_type=Comment"},"article_id":34142,"shareable_image_url":"https://n.causes.com/share-images/comments/1025868.png","note":{"text":"Yes","color":"#624960","stance":"yes"},"note_text":"Yes","note_color":"#624960","user_id":"jZBeQPMW","liker_ids":["w9DKYemg","9odrQBnb","mpnxwM7E","m46p3L5X"]}}

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