THE WORLD\u2019S LEADING TECH COMPANIES ARE UNDER A SLEW OF ANTITRUST INVESTIGATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. BUT WILL THESE INVESTIGATIONS REALLY CHANGE THE WAY THEY DO BUSINESS?<\/p>\n
SO FOUR MAIN TECH GIANTS ARE THE SUBJECT OF FEDERAL AND STATE INVESTIGATIONS: GOOGLE, APPLE, AMAZON AND FACEBOOK. SO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS DOING ITS OWN INVESTIGATION, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IS INVESTIGATING, FEDERAL AGENCIES ARE INVESTIGATING AND SO ARE A WHOLE GROUP OF STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL. NOT EVERY TECH COMPANY IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY EACH OF THOSE THOUGH–ONLY GOOGLE AND FACEBOOK ARE SUBJECTS OF STATE INVESTIGATIONS.<\/p>\n
I\u2019M GOING TO FOCUS MAINLY ON THE CONGRESSIONAL ANTITRUST INVESTIGATION BECAUSE THAT INCLUDES ALL FOUR OF THOSE COMPANIES AND GIVES US A PRETTY GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THEY\u2019RE FACING. SO THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ALLEGES THAT THESE FOUR TECH COMPANIES ARE TOO BIG AND WITHOUT ANY MEANINGFUL COMPETITORS. AND THEY USE THEIR POWER TO SQUASH COMPETITION AND MAINTAIN THEIR POWER OVER THE MARKET. A FEW DAYS AGO, THE HOUSE COMMITTEE SENT REQUESTS FOR DOCUMENTS DIRECTLY TO THE HEADS OF EACH OF THOSE COMPANIES. THOSE REQUESTS INCLUDE PERSONAL EMAILS AND OTHER INTERNAL COMMUNICATION. WHAT THE HOUSE IS SEARCHING FOR IS EXAMPLES OF INTENTIONALLY ELIMINATING COMPETITION–AND IF THESE COMPANIES DON\u2019T TURN OVER DOCUMENTS, THEY MAY FACE THREATS OF SUBPOENA.<\/p>\n
HONESTLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS A REALLY BIG DEAL. THERE\u2019S A PRETTY LARGE BIPARTISAN PUSH IN THE U-S TO LOOK INTO BIG TECH AND INVITE MORE COMPETITION INTO THE INDUSTRY THAT IS INTEGRAL TO HOW WE ALL LIVE. OBVIOUSLY, DON\u2019T EXPECT THIS INVESTIGATION TO GO OVER SMOOTHLY. THERE WILL VERY LIKELY BE PUSHBACK FROM THE TECH COMPANIES, WHICH PROBABLY DON\u2019T WANT TO REVEAL INTERNAL COMMUNICATION AND SO-CALLED TRADE SECRETS. AND EXPECT THESE TYPES OF QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED OF EXECUTIVES–AMAZON WILL PROBABLY BE ASKED IF THEY PROMOTE THEIR OWN PRODUCTS OVER THOSE OF COMPETITORS. APPLE WILL BE ASKED HOW THEY RANK APPS IN THE APP STORE. GOOGLE WILL BE ASKED ABOUT ITS AD BUSINESS AND ANDROID. AND FACEBOOK WILL PROBABLY BE ASKED ABOUT ITS ACQUISITIONS OF INSTAGRAM OF WHATSAPP. THAT\u2019S FAR FROM THE TOTAL SCOPE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WILL BE ASKED IN THE HOUSE INVESTIGATION, BUT HOPEFULLY THAT GIVES YOU AN UNDERSTANDING OF JUST HOW MUCH IT WILL COVER. I DON\u2019T EXPECT THIS PROCESS TO MOVE TOO QUICKLY–BUT IF AND WHEN EXECUTIVES ARE QUESTIONED BY CONGRESS, I WILL ABSOLUTELY KEEP YOU IN THE LOOP.<\/p>\n
THANKS FOR WATCHING THIS EPISODE OF TECH FEED. IF YOU LIKED THIS VIDEO BE SURE TO GIVE IT A THUMBS UP AND SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNEL. AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF THESE ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS–AND IF THEY\u2019LL RESULT IN ANY MEANINGFUL CHANGE. SEE YOU NEXT TIME.<\/p>\n