US: FTC chairman Leibowitz, former chairman Leary defend Google outcome

The Federal Trade Commission has released a new defense of its decision to drop a major antitrust case against Google via an interview with FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz on Talking Points Memo. The agreement was widely criticized by many of Google’s competitors, especially Microsoft and Yelp. In the interview, Leibowitz says the ruling was fair, saying “we did what we’re paid to do and what the law requires,” also emphasizing that Google has agreed to change some of its business tactics. 

In a separate article, former FTC commissioner Thomas B. Leary wrote a USA Today op-ed also defending the FTC’s decision to end the case, stating that while Google’s competitiors are unhappy with the outcome, the “competitor complaints are inconsistent with solid consensus opinion about the fundamental objectives of the US antitrust laws.” He also assured that the FTC fulfilled its legal duty to promote those objectives.

Full Content: Daily Tech and USA Today

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