Tech Giants Reject Monopoly Claims

Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google contested the conclusions from a report by a US congressional committee, which found the companies abused their control over the digital economy and recommended politicians pass laws to check their power. The document highlighted increased concentration in key digital markets, including mobile operating systems and app stores, social networking, and online search and advertising.

The report accused the four tech giants of engaging in anti-competitive practices, using acquisitions, restrictive contracts and discrimination against rivals to maintain monopoly positions in their respective markets. This dynamic diminished consumer choice, eroded innovation and entrepreneurship in the US economy, weakened the vibrancy of the free and diverse press, and undermined Americans’ privacy, it concluded. It recommended Congress pass new or amend existing laws to prohibit dominant platforms from operating in adjacent markets; ban self-preferencing; mandate data portability; eliminate forced arbitration clauses; and strengthen merger reviews.

Google slammed the report as outdated and inaccurate, adding that the goal of antitrust law is to protect consumers, not help commercial rivals. The company also argued the recommended actions would cause real harm to consumers, America’s technology leadership and the US economy, all for no clear gain. Apple said it disagreed with the report’s conclusions, insisting it does not have a dominant market share in any category where they do business. Apple added that the developers have been primary beneficiaries of its App Store ecosystem.