It looks like the DOJ may end up investigating Google, Facebook, and Twitter for improper business practices according to Bloomberg.
The investigation isn’t official yet, but Sessions is said to be meeting with folks next week to figure out if they want to proceed:
BLOOMBERG – Attorney General Jeff Sessions is exploring a potential investigation of social media companies and will be briefed on Sept. 25 by Republican state attorneys general who are already examining the firms’ practices, according to two people familiar with the matter.
The meeting — which will include a representative of the Justice Department’s antitrust division — is intended to help Sessions decide if there’s a federal case to be made against companies such as Alphabet Inc.’s Google, Facebook Inc. and Twitter Inc. for violating consumer or antitrust laws, the people said. They asked not to be identified discussing the matter because of its sensitivity.
Sessions hasn’t made up his mind about whether to proceed, the people said. At least one of the attorneys general participating in the meeting has indicated he seeks to break up the companies.
The Sept. 25 briefing will include the attorneys general from Alabama, Nebraska, Tennessee, Louisiana and Texas. It wasn’t immediately clear how far or coordinated their probes into the companies are.
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry looks forward to hearing from Sessions and other states about “what the next steps may be,” said Ruth Wisher, a spokeswoman for Landry.
Landry said in an interview last week with a Shreveport radio station that he’s “extremely concerned” about data collection by Google, Facebook and Twitter and the supposed suppression of conservative viewpoints. He added that he’s “thrilled” by the Justice Department’s interest.
“Those are the kind of resources that we’re going need to break these companies up,” Landry said in the interview with KEEL News Radio 710. “The problem is they’ve got no competition.”
No doubt this will be a huge deal if Sessions begins an official investigation. But with the most recent revelation that Google tried to aid Hillary in 2016 with ‘secret donations’ or what not, it may well be warranted. It cannot be political in any way, however. But I don’t think Sessions would allow that to happen.
The DOJ isn’t the only one interested in Google. Kevin McCarthy put this out earlier today:
•Claims to be fair, but gave a “silent donation” to a left-wing group to stop Trump
•Works w/ China/Russia to censor the internet, but cancelled a contract with our military
•Ignores Senate hearingIt’s time for @Google to answer some ?’s An invite will be on its way.
— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) September 11, 2018