Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google to testify in Congress on 16 July
Here's what to expect.
We reported earlier that the US Justice Department was investigating Apple, Amazon, Google and Facebook for potential antitrust issues. They're now preparing to call their executives up to the microphone in the hearing being held next week on 16 July, according to aides for the antitrust panel chairman Rep. David Cicilline.
Both Democrats and Republicans are concerned by the growing power of a handful of tech companies. While we believe that breaking up big tech is unlikely, it has been done before. This is one of the first hearings since the antitrust probe was announced about a month ago.
Big tech break up? That’s unlikely.The investigation is more likely to give the government an indication as to whether the issues can be resolved by the existing rules or they would need to pass new legislation.
Naturally, all four tech giants will fight accusations of anti-competitive behaviour. Apple has already rejected the idea that the App Store is a monopoly, while Google has fought yet has had to pay antitrust penalties in Europe. Amazon's case is slightly different as it has allegedly undercut the third party sellers on its platform, who are its indirect competitors, however, its actions have been beneficial to consumers; which contradicts the current US antitrust laws.
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