Google illegally used its search engine superiority to monopolize online searches to stifle competition, a federal court ruled Aug. 5 – a decision that may be followed by others as regulators seek to limit the reach of big tech companies.
Dozens of states have joined federal antitrust suits against “Magnificent 7” companies Google, Amazon, Apple and Facebook’s parent Meta.
Google, with its parent Alphabet, is being sued for online advertising practices. The company is appealing the Aug. 5 search engine antitrust decision.
Learn more: How Google ruling could affect your internet searches.
But while two of those cases have been filed by the U.S. Department of Justice, and two others by the Federal Trade Commission, states have jumped in and joined the lawsuits.
USA TODAY reviewed pending cases against tech companies to determine which states have joined federal lawsuits. Here is what we found.
Amazon v. FTC and 17 states
- Who filed suit: Federal Trade Commission, 17 states.
- When: Sept. 26, 2023
- Why: The suit claims Amazon is using unfair exclusionary methods of competition for online retail. The company’s actions “allow it to stop rivals and sellers from lowering prices, degrade quality for shoppers, overcharge sellers, stifle innovation, and prevent rivals from fairly competing against Amazon,” the suit says.
- Alleged violation of: Section 2 of the Sherman Act.
- Amazon’s response: The company says the claims are false.
- Where: U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.
- Pages: 172
- Case status: Trial date set for October 2026.
Apple v. Justice Department, 19 states
- Who filed suit: Department of Justice, 19 states and the District of Columbia.
- When: March 21, 2024
- Why: The suit says Apple monopolized smartphone markets, making it difficult for consumers to “switch smartphones, stifling innovation and imposing extraordinary costs on developers and businesses.”
- Alleged violation of: Section 2 of the Sherman Act.
- Apple’s response: The company denied the accusations and sought dismissal of the suit.
- Where: U.S. District Court of New Jersey
- Pages: 88
- Case status: Trial date not yet set.
Meta v. Justice Department, 46 states, DC, Guam
- Who filed suit: Federal Trade Commission, 46 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam.
- When: Dec. 9, 2020 (first filing); Aug. 19, 2021 (second filing); Sept. 8, 2021 (amended filing)
- Why: The FTC said Facebook “is illegally maintaining its personal social networking monopoly through a years-long course of anticompetitive conduct” including the purchase of Instagram and WhatsApp to monopolize social media platforms.
- Meta’s response: The company denied the accusations and asked for summary judgment to dismiss the suit.
- Where: U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia
- Alleged violation of: Section 2 of the Sherman Act.
- Pages: 81
- Case status: Trial date not yet set.
Google v. Justice Department, 8 states
- Who filed suit: Department of Justice and eight states.
- When: Jan. 24, 2023
- Why: The civil antitrust suit accused Google of acquiring competitors, forcing use of Google tools, and other actions to limit competition in internet advertising.
- Alleged violation of: Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act.
- Google’s response: The company argued for a win without trial, saying antitrust laws don’t block companies from refusing to deal with rivals. It said regulators had not accurately defined the ad technology market. Google’s motion to dismiss was denied.
- What court: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
- Case status: Trial scheduled in September 2024.
Source: USA TODAY Network reporting and research; Reuters; Federal Trade Commission; Department of Justice