Experts Say Big Tech’s COVID-19 Response Won’t Carry Weight In Antitrust Probes

New work from home set-ups and a goodwill tour by the Big Tech companies are unlikely to soften the nation’s top antitrust agencies in the industry, reported CNBC. 

Up until recently, Facebook, Google, Amazon, and Apple had been met with unyielding scrutiny in Washington and most state attorneys general offices, barraged by questions of dominance and privacy violations. Facebook and Google have been most visibly pursued by federal authorities and state attorneys. 

But as the coronavirus pandemic shut down business as usual, tech companies gained a chance to win back some goodwill. The companies have donated millions of dollars toward efforts to fight the virus, helped health officials spread their messages to encourage a flattening of the curve and donated their stockpiles of personal protective equipment. Amazon, in particular, has become even more important to Americans who want all their needs delivered to their doors.

According to CNBC, it doesn’t seem like the best time to propose a break-up or some other antitrust remedy. But experts say the investigations that have already been set in motion are unlikely to change much during the ensuing crisis. 

The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have both signaled they are continuing to seriously investigate companies in their purview. The most prominent tech investigations on the federal level involve the FTC’s probe into Facebook and the DOJ’s probe into Google.

A spokesperson for the FTC said in a statement that as most of its employees work remotely, “Our two main priorities will continue to be: first, the health and well-being of our personnel, their families and parties and organizations who appear before us; and, second, the continuity of our mission to protect consumers and promote competition. While we cannot speculate on what the future holds, we remain on duty and committed to continuing to our important work.”

“The manner in which we conduct our investigations has adapted to the constraints of physical distancing, but make no mistake about it: the substance of our work remains the same,” FTC Bureau of Competition Director Ian Conner wrote in an April 6 blog post.

Full Content: CNBC

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