A group of US states is planning to take aim at Google with an antitrust lawsuit, saying the internet giant abused its power when ranking its own offerings in search results.

Politico reported Tuesday that a complaint led by attorneys general from Colorado and Nebraska could be filed as early as Thursday.

Amazon, TripAdvisor, Yelp and other internet firms that involve recommending products or services have complained that Google favours its own offerings in general search results.

The suit being prepared by states will argue that Google's search engine disadvantages rivals by design.

Google called the US lawsuit "deeply flawed."

Google's long-running business model based on free services and advertising is already being put to the test in a landmark antitrust lawsuit filed by the US Justice Department.

The US government filed a blockbuster lawsuit in October accusing Google of maintaining an "illegal monopoly" in online search and advertising. The country's biggest antitrust case in decades, it opens the door to a potential breakup of the Silicon Valley titan.

The politically charged case, which could take years to play out, draws new battle lines between the US government and Big Tech, with potentially major implications for the sector.

But the government is likely to face challenges proving monopoly allegations against the tech firm, which grew into one of the world's most successful companies by leveraging its powerful search engine for a network of services such as maps, email, shopping and travel that feed its data-driven digital advertising.

Legal experts point to the fact that it may be difficult to show Google's conduct was illegal under the longstanding "consumer welfare" standard in monopoly cases because its services are largely free.

The case -- joined by 11 states, all of which have Republican attorneys general -- comes against a backdrop of fierce political backlash against Big Tech giants that have extended their dominance in recent years.

The Justice Department argues that Google has cemented its monopoly position using deals with device makers to ensure its apps and services are prominently displayed, and sometimes can't be deleted.

(with inputs from agencies)

A group of US states is planning to take aim at Google with an antitrust lawsuit, saying the internet giant abused its power when ranking its own offerings in search results.

A group of US states is planning to take aim at Google with an antitrust lawsuit, saying the internet giant abused its power when ranking its own offerings in search results. Politico reported Tuesday that a complaint led by attorneys general from Colorado and Nebraska could be filed as early as Thursday. Amazon, TripAdvisor, Yelp and other internet firms that involve recommending products or services have complained that Google favours its own offerings in general search results. The suit being prepared by states will argue that Google's search engine disadvantages rivals by design. Google called the US lawsuit "deeply flawed." Google's long-running business model based on free services and advertising is already being put to the test in a landmark antitrust lawsuit filed by the US Justice Department. The US government filed a blockbuster lawsuit in October accusing Google of maintaining an "illegal monopoly" in online search and advertising. The country's biggest antitrust case in decades, it opens the door to a potential breakup of the Silicon Valley titan. The politically charged case, which could take years to play out, draws new battle lines between the US government and Big Tech, with potentially major implications for the sector. But the government is likely to face challenges proving monopoly allegations against the tech firm, which grew into one of the world's most successful companies by leveraging its powerful search engine for a network of services such as maps, email, shopping and travel that feed its data-driven digital advertising. Legal experts point to the fact that it may be difficult to show Google's conduct was illegal under the longstanding "consumer welfare" standard in monopoly cases because its services are largely free. The case -- joined by 11 states, all of which have Republican attorneys general -- comes against a backdrop of fierce political backlash against Big Tech giants that have extended their dominance in recent years. The Justice Department argues that Google has cemented its monopoly position using deals with device makers to ensure its apps and services are prominently displayed, and sometimes can't be deleted. (with inputs from agencies)

US states aiming an antitrust suit against Google

An Australian regulator sued Facebook Inc on Wednesday accusing it of collecting user data without permission, building on government efforts around the world to rein in the social network.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said it was seeking an unspecified fine from Facebook for promoting a virtual private network as a way for people to protect their data, while secretly using the information to pick targets for commercial acquisitions.

The lawsuit echoes a landmark U.S. Federal Trade Commission action accusing the social media giant of inappropriately maintaining market dominance by using customer data to decide on takeover targets including messaging app Whatsapp and image-sharing app Instagram.

"There is a link to what the FTC is saying, but they`re looking at a competition issue," ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said at a televised news conference. "We`re looking at the consumer."

A Facebook spokeswoman said the company was "always clear about the information we collect and how it is used".

"We will review the recent filing by the ACCC and will continue to defend our position in response to this recent filing," she added.

Facebook shut down the VPN product in 2019.

Earlier this month, Australia went ahead with plans to make Facebook and internet giant Google pay domestic media outlets for content that appeared on their websites, at Sims`s recommendation.

The Australian privacy regulator has a separate lawsuit against Facebook accusing it of breaching user privacy with a personality test run by political marketing consultant Cambridge Analytica. Facebook is defending that action. The ACCC is also suing Google alleging it misled users about data collection.

Unlike the U.S. lawsuit, which may force Facebook to sell assets, the Australian lawsuit may force the company to change the way it discloses its activities to users, said Rob Nicholls, a University of New South Wales associate professor who specialises in competition law.

"Rather than take the antitrust approach of `the only way to solve this is to break it up`, it`s more `we`re going to take the actions that we can under the existing law to change the conduct so that it is acceptable to Australian consumers and Australian businesses," Nicholls said.

An Australian regulator sued Facebook Inc on Wednesday accusing it of collecting user data without permission, building on government efforts around the world to rein in the social network.

An Australian regulator sued Facebook Inc on Wednesday accusing it of collecting user data without permission, building on government efforts around the world to rein in the social network. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said it was seeking an unspecified fine from Facebook for promoting a virtual private network as a way for people to protect their data, while secretly using the information to pick targets for commercial acquisitions. The lawsuit echoes a landmark U.S. Federal Trade Commission action accusing the social media giant of inappropriately maintaining market dominance by using customer data to decide on takeover targets including messaging app Whatsapp and image-sharing app Instagram. "There is a link to what the FTC is saying, but they`re looking at a competition issue," ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said at a televised news conference. "We`re looking at the consumer." A Facebook spokeswoman said the company was "always clear about the information we collect and how it is used". "We will review the recent filing by the ACCC and will continue to defend our position in response to this recent filing," she added. Facebook shut down the VPN product in 2019. Earlier this month, Australia went ahead with plans to make Facebook and internet giant Google pay domestic media outlets for content that appeared on their websites, at Sims`s recommendation. The Australian privacy regulator has a separate lawsuit against Facebook accusing it of breaching user privacy with a personality test run by political marketing consultant Cambridge Analytica. Facebook is defending that action. The ACCC is also suing Google alleging it misled users about data collection. Unlike the U.S. lawsuit, which may force Facebook to sell assets, the Australian lawsuit may force the company to change the way it discloses its activities to users, said Rob Nicholls, a University of New South Wales associate professor who specialises in competition law. "Rather than take the antitrust approach of `the only way to solve this is to break it up`, it`s more `we`re going to take the actions that we can under the existing law to change the conduct so that it is acceptable to Australian consumers and Australian businesses," Nicholls said.

Australia sues Facebook over user data, echoing US antitrust case

Alphabet's Google must tell a district court how it will respond to a federal antitrust lawsuit by mid-November, with the two sides making initial disclosures later in the month.

The district court judge said the two sides should make initial disclosures about potential witnesses and evidence that may be used at trial by November 20.

The US Justice Department sued Google on October 20, accusing the company of illegally using its market muscle to hobble rivals in the biggest challenge to the power and influence of Big Tech in decades.

The federal government alleges that Google acted unlawfully to maintain its position in search as well as search advertising. Google has denied any wrongdoing.

In a status conference on Friday, Google's representative agreed to tell the US District Court for the District of Columbia by November 13 if the search and advertising giant planned to ask for the case to be thrown out on summary judgment.

The judge, to this end, asked the two sides to produce by November 6 a status report on a protective order, which would protect third parties like Google customers who provide evidence for the government.

The next status conference was set for November 18.

The judge, who was randomly selected, also disclosed personal links to Google, including a cousin who worked for the company and a friend who had been an executive there. 
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Alphabet's Google must tell a district court how it will respond to a federal antitrust lawsuit by mid-November, with the two sides making initial disclosures later in the month.

Alphabet's Google must tell a district court how it will respond to a federal antitrust lawsuit by mid-November, with the two sides making initial disclosures later in the month. The district court judge said the two sides should make initial disclosures about potential witnesses and evidence that may be used at trial by November 20. The US Justice Department sued Google on October 20, accusing the company of illegally using its market muscle to hobble rivals in the biggest challenge to the power and influence of Big Tech in decades. The federal government alleges that Google acted unlawfully to maintain its position in search as well as search advertising. Google has denied any wrongdoing. In a status conference on Friday, Google's representative agreed to tell the US District Court for the District of Columbia by November 13 if the search and advertising giant planned to ask for the case to be thrown out on summary judgment. The judge, to this end, asked the two sides to produce by November 6 a status report on a protective order, which would protect third parties like Google customers who provide evidence for the government. The next status conference was set for November 18. The judge, who was randomly selected, also disclosed personal links to Google, including a cousin who worked for the company and a friend who had been an executive there.

November deadline set for Google's initial response to US antitrust case

Facebook's stock dropped almost 3 per cent on Friday in regular trading after news reports suggested that the US FTC may take anti-trust action to prevent <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/facebook-no-longer-among-glassdoors-top-10-workplaces-267599">Facebook from integrating</a> its disparate messaging apps.

The reports said the Federal Trade Commission(FTC) may seek a court injunction that would block Facebook's "interoperability" plans for Facebook messenger, Whatsapp and Instagram, which involves revising them to use the same underlying software.

Facebook has been planning to integrate the app since early 2019. Federal regulators are concerned that Facebook's plan could make it hard to break up the company should the FTC find that necessary.

An additional investigation had revealed that Facebook has been buying small app developers and IT firms that could pose a threat to the firm's market share.

Facebook has been charged with taking higher stake in all those firms to kill competition not only in the United States but in other parts of the world as well. The company is facing similar charges in the European Union as well, meanwhile, Facebook has denied the charges.

Facebook's stock dropped almost 3 per cent on Friday in regular trading after news reports suggested that the US FTC may take anti-trust action to prevent Facebook from integrating its disparate messaging apps.

Facebook's stock dropped almost 3 per cent on Friday in regular trading after news reports suggested that the US FTC may take anti-trust action to prevent Facebook from integrating its disparate messaging apps. The reports said the Federal Trade Commission(FTC) may seek a court injunction that would block Facebook's "interoperability" plans for Facebook messenger, Whatsapp and Instagram, which involves revising them to use the same underlying software. Facebook has been planning to integrate the app since early 2019. Federal regulators are concerned that Facebook's plan could make it hard to break up the company should the FTC find that necessary. An additional investigation had revealed that Facebook has been buying small app developers and IT firms that could pose a threat to the firm's market share. Facebook has been charged with taking higher stake in all those firms to kill competition not only in the United States but in other parts of the world as well. The company is facing similar charges in the European Union as well, meanwhile, Facebook has denied the charges.

Facebook shares fall over possible US antitrust move

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US states aiming an antitrust suit against Google

Australia sues Facebook over user data, echoing US antitrust case

November deadline set for Google's initial response to US antitrust case

Facebook shares fall over possible US antitrust move