The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reports the US Department of Justice (DOJ) is increasing efforts on its Apple antitrust investigation. The investigation focuses on Apple’s third-party app store policies and anticompetitive practices on iOS platforms. The DOJ’s ramped-up investigation comes as iOS users filed four class-action lawsuits over Apple’s allegedly duplicitous data collection practices. Here’s everything you need to know about the DOJ’s investigation.
The DOJ opened its Apple antitrust investigation in 2019.
According to WSJ, the DOJ added more manpower to the investigation team and made new requests for related documents. They’ve also asked for additional consultations with companies involved with the matter. Additionally, Reuters reports the Justice Department is stepping up antitrust enforcement against big tech across the board.
The DOJ has open investigations into both Apple and Google’s parent company, Alphabet. In Alphabet’s case, the Justice Department focuses on its allegedly illegal, anticompetitive advertisement practices. Google ads make up 80% of the company’s revenue.
Additionally, according to CNBC, there is no official word about DOJ antitrust chief Jonathan Kanter’s involvement in the investigation. CNBC reports Kanter wasn’t involved with the probe because of previous clients’ anticompetitive allegations against Apple.
However, sources say Kanter will likely participate in any legal action against the company. The DOJ also cleared Kanter to join the investigation into Alphabet’s anticompetitive practices after the department raised similar concerns.
The US is finally matching efforts in the UK and EU.
Antitrust watchdogs in the United Kingdom and Europe have carried the banner in big tech antitrust enforcement for some time. The European Commission and Competition Markets Authority led the charge against companies like Alphabet, Apple,
For example, the European Commission recently fined Meta nearly $12 billion for anticompetitive advertisement policies on Facebook and Instagram. Europe also passed the Digital Markets Act, preventing these massive tech companies from acting as ”gatekeepers” to online platforms. However, the DOJ’s recently renewed efforts against Apple and Alphabet bring the US up to par in global antitrust enforcement.
