What to know about Trump’s antitrust efforts against technology giants

The Trump administration is not surrendering on the giants of technology.

On Monday, the Federal Trade Commission will face off in court for the statements that the social media giant Nascent competitors When he purchased Instagram and WhatsApp. And on April 21, the Department of Justice will support that a federal judge should force Google a Sell ​​your Chrome web browser limit the power of its research monopoly.

Both cases, who helped to set in motion A new era of antitrust controlThey were presented during the first term of President Trump in office. They were advanced by the Biden Administration, which also intended Monopoly legal actions against Amazon, Apple and the business of Google advertising technology.

Investors in Silicon Valley and Wall Street He hoped that Mr. Trump could show technological companies More deference during his second term, as he promised to deregple the industries. Some legal experts think that the administration could still take a lighter hand on blocking mergers and establish proactive regulations for technology.

But so far, the nominated of Trump have promised to continue most of the control of the largest technological companies, despite the hopes of the sector.

“I think they may not have concentrated completely on what Trump’s first presidency had to do with the setting of this review of technology” Bill Kovacic, former president of the FTC said.

Here’s what to know.

Who is responsible for the antitrust application now?

Mr. Trump named Andrew Ferguson as president of the FTC, which applies antitrust and consumer protection laws. Mr. Ferguson, a lawyer who has spent most of his career working for powerful republican senators, said he wants to increase control of the ways in which social media companies decide to break down places. The conservatives have complained for years that platforms such as Facebook and YouTube censor in a disproportionate right point of view.

“I will put all the resources that the agency has in pursuing the cases against Big Tech that we have made,” said Ferguson in an apparition on the Bloomberg podcast “Odd Lots” this year.

The new leader of Antitrust division of the Department of Justice, Gail SlaterA veteran technological and media lawyer worked on the White House during Mr. Trump’s first term. He also committed himself to enforcing antitrust laws aggressively.

“Now it is a bipartisan problem, and there is a consensus on the need for a solid antitrust application,” said Mrs. Slater in an event hosted this month by Y Combinator, the Silicon Valley start-up accelerator, who pushed for greater antitrust control of the technological giants.

Where are the main antitrust causes against technology giants?

Five government cases accuse technological companies of maintaining illegal monopolies and all move through the courts. The companies deny the accusations.

• The FTC In court destroy in 2020By claiming that his Instagram acquisitions in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014 they violated the law using what the regulators call a “purchase or bury” strategy to eliminate his nascent rivals. The process should last until July and present testimonies from high -profile characters including the CEO of Meta, Mark Zuckerberg.

• The Department of Justice Google sued in 2020 They claim that he had a monopoly in online research. A federal judge decided for the government last year and will convene an audition of about three weeks on how to deal with Google’s monopoly. The government suggested that the company sells Chrome, among other measures. Google has proposed less restrictions and declared that it provides for appealing.

• The Department of Justice Accused Google in 2023 to illegally dominate the business of advertising technology. A federal judge listened to topics in that case last year and a sentence is soon expected.

• The FTC Amazon accused in a cause of 2023 to squeeze small traders who use its market to sell to consumers. A federal judge rejected Amazon’s attempt to archive the case last year. It is scheduled for the process next year.

• The Department of Justice Apple in court Last year he claims that the intertwined ecosystem of the company makes it difficult for consumers to abandon their iPhone and iPad. Apple asked a federal judge to reject the case.

What about the mergers and acquisitions of the technological sector?

The Biden administration attempted and failed to block numerous technological agreements, including the purchase by Meta di A Small virtual reality start-up, inside. The push to stop the outraged investors outraged that support the small companies that want to collect being acquired by a giant of technology.

The names of Mr. Trump claim to want to escape acquisitions that do not present a competitive problem. Mrs. Slater expressed an opening to the proposed settlements of companies – such as the sale of similar activities – which can help resolve worries about operations.

At the end of January, the Department of Justice sued to block The Business Software company Hewlett Packard Enterprise from the purchase of Juniper Networks, a networking company, for $ 14 billion. It was the first cause to contest a technological agreement in the second mandate of Mr. Trump.

During the first Trump administration, the Department of Justice challenged without success Purchase of AT&T Time Warner.

What does this mean for the breed of artificial intelligence?

Last year, the Department of Justice and the FTC agreed to divide responsibility To investigate whether the greatest players in artificial intelligence were violating antitrust laws. The Department of Justice began to investigate Nvidia, while the FTC took Microsoft and its partner, Openai.

It is not clear whether these investigations will lead to legal actions. The Trump administration has promised to clarify the way to American companies to develop the IA, including the revocation of an executive order of the Biden era that put the guardrails on the use of technology.

The administration has urged the contribution of the sector On the best way to move forward with the technology policy, an opening that companies and investors have taken to make pressure for a smaller number of rules.

“I think it is extremely important to protect competition in the AI ​​space, but I think it is equally important that the government does not run to regulate the IA,” said Ferguson on Bloomberg TV in March.