Report: Attorneys General Could Announce Google Antitrust Probe Next Week

The Washington Post reported Tuesday that more than half of the country’s attorneys general could announce an antitrust probe into Google as soon as next week.

The Post reported that several state attorneys general could announce an antitrust investigation into the search giant next Monday, September 9, in Washington, DC. However, it remains unclear whether the state attorneys general could announce additional probes into other large technology companies such as Amazon, Google, and Facebook.

A Wall Street Journal report found that the attorneys general could focus on whether these Silicon Valley companies have stifled competition by using their concentrated marketplace powers.

The Washington Post‘s report follows an exclusive Breitbart News interview with Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry that many state attorneys generals have “had enough” of big tech, and they will “take action” after significant investigation.

“You know I would tell you that if everybody thinks it’s just saber-rattling, then they’re wrong,” Landry told Breitbart News. “At some point in time we believe when there’s smoke there’s fire, and at a time when we are able to gather evidence, we’re going to take action.”

Makan Delrahim, the assistant attorney general for the antitrust division at the DOJ, said in August that “a couple of dozen states” are interested in big tech for antitrust concerns.

Landry’s interview arises as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), as well as the DOJ, have launched their own antitrust investigations. The FTC continues to look into whether Facebook purchased WhatsApp or Instagram to prevent those companies from becoming competitors.

Landry also said that big tech companies enjoy significant legal immunity from civil litigation through Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

He said, “The problem is what we’re heard from big tech over the last 24 months is that their actions do not match their rhetoric.”

“Big tech enjoys immunity from civil actions, which no other industry enjoys,” Landry added. “They’re immune from civil action in court. That’s problematic.”