On July 16, according to foreign media statistics, there are currently a total of 70 competition-related lawsuits or investigations against companies such as Amazon, Google, Apple, and Facebook worldwide.
It is reported that among the 70 antitrust investigations and lawsuits, Google faces the largest number of investigations and cases, reaching 25, which is 9 more than two years ago; followed by Apple with 19 and Facebook with 14. Amazon faces the fewest investigations, reaching 12, which is only 5 more than two years ago.
At the same time, U.S. regulators have stepped up their antitrust scrutiny in recent years, and the total market value of these technology companies has grown from about $3 trillion to about $7 trillion two years ago, and they have faced only 17 investigations and lawsuits.
Currently, a total of more than a dozen countries and the European Union are investigating these technology companies, and antitrust officials in various countries are also looking for information abuse in these companies' operations, including text messages, search and online advertising systems. Meanwhile, officials from a number of other jurisdictions have joined the effort.
Recently, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (Compatible And Markets Authority) stated that they are setting up a digital market enforcement unit to try to curb the unlimited expansion of Internet giants. As a result, Amazon’s investment in the food delivery company Deliveroo was forced to be shelved for nearly a year, and Facebook’s acquisition of GIF startup Giphy was also forced to be shelved for more than a year.
It is worth noting that of all the companies facing antitrust investigations, Amazon may be the most difficult to force to reform. The company is currently facing 12 investigations in at least seven jurisdictions, but only one has been closed so far.
Previously, the Attorney General of the District of Columbia sued Amazon in May this year because the company required third-party merchants to price their products on the platform the same as on their own website, while some third-party merchants wanted to charge higher fees on the platform. The judge hearing the case ruled that Amazon's practice harmed consumers by preventing merchants from selling goods at lower prices on its own website.
In addition, Lina Khan, a longtime Amazon critic, was recently promoted to chair of the FTC, an appointment that led to the federal government filing a lawsuit against the company. It is reported that the lawsuit against the company is likely to focus on its differential treatment of third-party sellers on the platform.
