[ad_1] It was reportedly in discussions last year to buy Houseparty, a group video chat app from the team behind Meerkat. However, it ended the talks after a few weeks, according to the New York Times. Sources told the paper Facebook ultimately decided buying another sizeable player in the social networking space posed too much […]
Category: antitrust
Apple faces anti-trust probe in Russia over rejected parental control app
[ad_1] The company has taken heat from US and EU regulators for its tight control over apps that allow parents to limit their children’s screen time. Apple this summer issued a new policy on such parental control apps, permitting apps that rely on a VPN or MDM (mobile device management). According to the updated guidance, […]
FTC may be investigating Facebook’s deals for Instagram and WhatsApp
[ad_1] Facebook confirmed in its latest earnings report an FTC investigation was underway, but didn’t go into much detail beyond it having to do with “the areas of social networking or social media services, digital advertising, and/or mobile or online applications.” The acquisition aspect is reportedly the focus of the investigation. Engadget has contacted Facebook […]
Android users in Europe will get to pick their default search provider
[ad_1] After a lengthy investigation, last year the EU Commission fined Google €4.34 billion ($5 billion) for antitrust violations relating to the Android operating system. The Commission found that by forcing mobile network operators to install Chrome and to use Google as the default search engine on Android devices, the company created a monopoly for […]
Justice Department launches sweeping review of competition in tech
[ad_1] Officials vowed to “seek redress” if they found any lawbreaking. Wall Street Journal sources claimed that the DOJ wouldn’t ignore violations of other laws if discovered during the review. The Department didn’t name specific targets, but it’s not hard to guess which tech giants are likely to come under the crosshairs. Amazon, Apple, Facebook, […]
Qualcomm fined €242 million in European antitrust case
[ad_1] The case refers to a period between 2009 and 2011 when Qualcomm was in competition with NVIDIA’s modem business, Icera, to create smaller and more efficient wireless chips. The Commission found that Qualcomm sold its chipsets below cost to Huawei and ZTE in order to eliminate the competition. The strategy worked to cement Qualcomm’s […]
Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google to testify in Congress on competition
[ad_1] Both Democrats and Republicans have been concerned that just a handful of companies not only have control of the internet (and technology at large), but might be abusing their power to squeeze out competition. The investigation won’t necessarily lead to action, but it may help politicians determine if any problems can either be addressed […]
Ten states sue to block T-Mobile merger with Sprint
[ad_1] The states said they gave “significant consideration” to the companies’ talk of expanded rural coverage, but noted that T-Mobile hadn’t provided evidence of cell site expansion in these areas that wouldn’t already be served by at least one of the two networks. They also rejected the carriers’ argument that a union was necessary to […]
House antitrust subcommittee will investigate internet competition
[ad_1] It’s still early days, but the committee is planning a “series of hearings” and intends to request info while conducting the investigation. Not surprisingly, officials were open to the prospect of creating new laws if necessary. The announcement comes just days after a report of a possible Justice Department investigation of Google, and weeks […]
US regulators carve up oversight of Amazon and Google
[ad_1] Both the DOJ and FTC have declined to comment on the rumor. It wouldn’t be shocking to see action. The FTC created a task force precisely to investigate antitrust issues in the tech industry, and companies like Google have faced antitrust crackdowns in Europe. Whether or not anything happens in the near future, this […]