A bipartisan group of lawmakers consisting of Sen Mike lee, Sen Amy Klobuchar, Reps. David Cicilline and Ken Buck wrote to the FTC urging them to not give up the fight against Facebook, who won the first round in court. However, even though they lost, the judge gave them a clear path to what they have to do to win the rematch. Instead of appealing, they will file a new suit, tailored to pass muster with the same judge or any other who would hear the case.
The lawmakers wrote:
“It is essential that the Commission take action to deter anticompetitive conduct by digital monopolists by ensuring that they are held liable for antitrust violations to the full extent of the law. Competition and innovation in America’s digital economy depend on it.”
I’m joining @SenMikeLee, @davidcicilline and @RepKenBuck to urge the FTC to do everything possible to pursue its antitrust case against Facebook. The monopoly power of big tech cannot go unchecked. https://t.co/W2X9I169AV
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) July 2, 2021
U.S. District Judge James Boasberg wrote in the ruling:
“The FTC has failed to plead enough facts to plausibly establish a necessary element of all of its Section 2 claims — namely, that Facebook has monopoly power in the market for Personal Social Networking (PSN) Services.”
Just so that you are aware, this case has nothing to do with censorship in any shape or form, and winning the lawsuit will not affect their censorship in any way. This is a lawsuit dealing with monopolies and anti-tr5ust regulations. Can a super large company buy out their competition or failing to do that, ruin the business of their business rivals? They can do this in many ways including discounting advertising to starve the competition out.
What the case could turn on is politics. Facebook, Twitter, and Google had a big hand in the election by suppressing conservative views and boosting liberal ideology. Can the Democrats allow a couple of their members to rock that boat? Time will tell.
The letter cited Facebook’s acquisition of Instagram and WhatsApp as examples of anticompetitive practices, along with the tech company’s alleged practice of preventing competitors from interoperating with its software.
The lawmakers expressed support for supplying the FTC with additional resources to regulate large tech companies, and called attention to antitrust legislation each of the lawmakers had proposed.
A federal judge had dismissed a December complaint brought by 46 states and the FTC against Facebook earlier this week, ruling that it was “legally insufficient” and that evidence for the tech company’s status as a monopoly was inadequate.
