Congressman aims to end tech's 'deeply disturbing' antitrust behavior
What you need to know
- Representative David Cicilline gave an interview on Wednesday.
- The congressman, who led last month's antitrust hearing with tech CEOs, says Congress must take action.
- According to Cicilline, the antitrust investigation has proven all four companies abused their power.
Representative David Cicilline, who led the antitrust hearing that heard from the CEOs of Apple, Google, Facebook, and Amazon, is preparing to deliver his recommendations about reigning in the technology company as soon as next month.
Reported by Bloomberg, Cicilline said in an interview on Wednesday that Congress's yearlong investigation has, for him, confirmed that all four companies are abusing their market power and that Congress must act against them.
As to what Congress will attempt to do to change how the companies operate, Cicilline says that Democrats and Republicans will be working together to implement the "biggest, boldest ideas I can."
One of the main ideas that has continued to gain steam is to not allow a company to own the app store that it also competes in. This would potentially separate Apple from the App Store, Google from the Play Store, and Amazon from its marketplace.
Cicilline says that they may issue the report as soon as next month and focus on antitrust reform as well as giving watchdogs like the Justice Department and FTC more power.
Apple, Google, Facebook, and Amazon have not yet responded to requests for comment.
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