# Factbox-How Big Tech is faring against U.S. lawsuits and probes Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2021-08-20 Category: BUSINESS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business Meta Title: US Government Antitrust Lawsuits: Facebook and Google Under Fire Meta Description: Learn about the latest antitrust lawsuits filed by the U.S. federal government and states against Facebook and Google, alleging monopolistic practices and URL: https://financedigest.com/factbox-how-big-tech-is-faring-against-u-s-lawsuits-and-probeshtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2021-08-19t212807z1lynxmpeh7i14krtroptp4tech-antitrust-lawsuits-factbox-2-1736837993958-compressed.jpg) (Reuters) – Big Tech platforms Facebook Inc and Google have been hit with a series of antitrust lawsuits by the U.S. federal government and states on charges they are operating monopolies and abusing their power. Below is the status of the cases, as well as government probes of Apple Inc and Amazon.com Inc. Two lawsuits against Facebook: The U.S. Federal Trade Commission [filed a new complaint](https://www.financedigest.com/edf-staff-shareholders-file-complaint-over-management.html "EDF staff, shareholders file complaint over management") against Facebook in mid-August 2021, adding more detail on the accusation the social media company crushed or bought rivals and once again asking a judge to force the social media giant to sell Instagram and WhatsApp. The agency did so at the invitation of Judge James Boasberg, who had said that its previous effort fell short. Boasberg, however, threw out a related state lawsuit entirely, saying the attorneys general had waited too long. They have indicated that they plan to appeal. Four lawsuits against Google The U.S. Justice Department sued Alphabet Inc’s Google in October, accusing the $1 trillion [company of illegally using its market](https://www.financedigest.com/generic-oncology-drugs-market-2021-global-leading-companies-analysis-revenue-trends-and-forecasts-2027.html "Generic Oncology Drugs Market 2021 Global Leading Companies Analysis, Revenue, Trends and Forecasts 2027") muscle to hobble rivals. A trial date was set for Sept. 12, 2023. A lawsuit by 38 U.S. states and territories accuses Google of abusing its market [power to try to make its search](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-nickel-meltdown-puts-spotlight-on-lmes-search-powers.html "Analysis-Nickel meltdown puts spotlight on LME’s search powers") engine as dominant inside cars, TVs and speakers as it is in phones. This was consolidated with the federal [lawsuit for purposes](https://www.financedigest.com/using-a-persons-image-for-commercial-purposes-lessons-learned-from-the-chipotle-2-2-billion-lawsuit.html "Using a Person’s Image for Commercial Purposes: Lessons Learned from the Chipotle .2 Billion Lawsuit") of discovery. Texas, backed by other states, filed a separate lawsuit against Google, accusing it of breaking antitrust law in how it [runs its online advertising business](https://www.financedigest.com/4-signs-you-have-what-it-takes-to-run-a-business.html "4 Signs You Have What It Takes to Run a Business"). Dozens of state attorneys general sued Google on July 7, alleging it bought off competitors and used restrictive contracts to unlawfully maintain a monopoly for its [app store](https://www.financedigest.com/apple-must-ease-app-store-rules-u-s-judge-orders-in-a-blow-to-iphone-maker.html "Apple must ease App Store rules, U.S. judge orders, in a blow to iPhone maker") on Android phones. Justice Department [investigates Apple:](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-investigating-apple-google-mobile-browser-dominance.html "UK investigating Apple, Google mobile browser dominance") This probe, revealed in June 2019, appears to focus on [Apple Inc’s app store](https://www.financedigest.com/apple-given-fourth-dutch-fine-in-app-store-dispute.html "Apple given fourth Dutch fine in App Store dispute"). Some app [developers have accused Apple of introducing new products very similar to existing apps created by other developers and sold in the Apple Store](https://www.financedigest.com/the-benefits-of-developing-online-stores-through-shopify.html "The Benefits of Developing Online Stores Through Shopify"), and then trying to banish the older apps from the store because they compete with Apple’s new product. [Apple says](https://www.financedigest.com/apple-says-issues-with-imessage-facetime-resolved35792.html "Apple says issues with iMessage, FaceTime resolved") it seeks to have only the highest-quality apps in the app store. Justice Department probing Facebook and Amazon: In July 2019, the Justice Department said it was expanding its [Big Tech](https://www.financedigest.com/startups-spring-from-ashes-of-big-tech-purge.html "Startups spring from ashes of Big Tech purge") probes to include “search, social media, and some retail services online” – an apparent reference to Facebook and Amazon.com Inc. Federal [Trade Commission](https://www.financedigest.com/fix-trading-community-releases-recommended-practices-for-commission-unbundling-as-required-by-mifid-ii.html "FIX Trading Community releases Recommended Practices for Commission Unbundling as required by MiFID II") on Amazon: In its investigation of Amazon, the FTC is likely looking at the inherent conflict of interest of Amazon competing with small [sellers on its marketplace platform, including allegations that it used information from sellers on its platform to decide what products it would introduce](https://www.financedigest.com/amazon-introduces-seller-storage-service-to-tackle-supply-chain-woes.html "Amazon introduces seller storage service to tackle supply chain woes"). (Reporting by Diane Bartz in Washington; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Matthew Lewis) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---