Big Tech faces renewed antitrust pressures under President-elect Trump, who vows to clamp down on what he deems excessive power and conservative censorship, according to a new report from Bloomberg.
Key Facts:
– Alphabet Inc.’s Google, Amazon.com Inc., Meta Platforms Inc., and Apple Inc. began facing intensified antitrust scrutiny during Trump’s first term and continued under Biden.
– Gail Slater has been named the incoming Justice Department antitrust chief, while Andrew Ferguson is set to chair the Federal Trade Commission.
– Major court dates loom in 2024, including hearings to possibly force Google to sell its Chrome browser and split off its advertising technology.
– The FTC seeks to unwind Meta’s ownership of Instagram and WhatsApp, while Apple and Amazon also face antitrust lawsuits.
– Microsoft, after years of being left alone, is now under a fresh FTC investigation.
The Rest of The Story:
Regulators and lawmakers are revisiting previous deals and examining whether the tech giants wield too much market power.
President-elect Trump has repeatedly accused leading platforms of silencing conservative voices, pointing to issues like Covid-19 discussions, mask mandates, vaccine debates, transgender topics, and election integrity.
Gail Slater and Andrew Ferguson share his outlook on limiting potential censorship, suggesting the administration’s enforcement strategy will be far-reaching.
Several court battles are already underway or on the horizon.
A judge in Washington will soon decide if Google must offload parts of its business, while another judge in Virginia will consider a separate government case that might lead to a breakup of Google’s ad technology.
Meta, meanwhile, is scheduled for an FTC trial seeking to reverse its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp.
Cases against Amazon and Apple are moving more slowly, with the Amazon trial not set until 2026.
Great pick by @realDonaldTrump. 10 years ago, Republicans were the party of big business and Dems stood for the little guys, but today the tables have completely turned. People forget that the current antitrust actions against Big Tech were started under the first Trump admin. pic.twitter.com/0XVVO2ffcH
— Andy Yen (@andyyen) December 4, 2024
Commentary:
We support a firm stance on restricting Big Tech’s ability to censor or ban views with which they disagree.
Free exchange of ideas is a pillar of a democratic society, and platforms should allow diverse perspectives—especially when those perspectives concern major public debates.
If the next Trump administration follows through on tighter oversight, it could inspire a healthier digital ecosystem.
More competition and equal treatment of user content could encourage fresh ideas and technological advancements that benefit everyone.
The Bottom Line:
Antitrust moves against Big Tech are likely to accelerate under President-elect Trump’s watch, with lawsuits and regulatory measures poised to alter how these companies operate.
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Free speech and open competition lie at the heart of these legal battles, setting the stage for significant industry shifts in the years ahead.