State AG Group Plans to Announce Google Antitrust Probe Monday
A group of state attorneys general plans to announce a bipartisan, multistate antitrust investigation of Google and potentially other tech companies (see 1908200066) Monday, state officials told us Tuesday. Texas AG Ken Paxton (R) expects to lead the event, possibly at 2 p.m. outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., according to one state official. The group leading the broader investigation of the industry is nearing 40 state AGs, the official said.
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Timely, relevant coverage of court proceedings and agency rulings involving tariffs, classification, valuation, origin and antidumping and countervailing duties. Each day, Trade Law Daily subscribers receive a daily headline email, in-depth PDF edition and access to all relevant documents via our trade law source document library and website.
An official from Paxton’s office confirmed a news conference is expected Monday. The office for Iowa AG Tom Miller (D) directed questions to Paxton, signaling Texas is the event’s point of contact. Utah AG Sean Reyes (R) plans to participate in Monday’s news conference, his office said.
Google creates more consumer choice, a spokesperson emailed. “We continue to work constructively with regulators, including attorneys general, in answering questions about our business and the dynamic technology sector."
Mississippi AG Jim Hood (D), who challenged Google on several fronts (see 1901040038), could help lead Monday’s event with Paxton, one state official said. Hood’s office declined comment. Offices for law enforcement chiefs in all other states didn’t comment. We contacted all 50 and the office for Washington, D.C. AG Karl Racine (D). The Supreme Court didn’t comment on whether the court was contacted about a potential news conference.
Expect a broad announcement without specific investigatory theories Monday, one official said. Tech companies could receive civil investigative demands for the tech probe as early as this week, as expected, the official said. CIDs can be used to compel documents and testimony.
The multistate investigation follows July discussions between a group of state AGs and Attorney General William Barr. AGs and officials from North Carolina, Arizona, Texas, Nebraska, New York, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida and Iowa attended the event with Barr. DOJ that month announced a broad review of the tech industry, which, according to one state official, is separate from the state effort. The FTC is also investigating tech industry competition through its recently launched task force (see 1902280077).