U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Richard Blumenthal introduced legislation on Friday to allow harsher penalties for companies that violate antitrust law, following a Justice Department probe into alleged anticompetitive behavior by big tech.
The “Monopolization Deterrence Act” by the Democratic senators would allow the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission to seek civil penalties for monopolization offenses under U.S. antitrust law, Klobuchar’s office said in a statement.
U.S. antitrust enforcers are scrutinizing tech giants Facebook Inc, Alphabet Inc’s Google, Amazon.com and Apple Inc to probe allegations that they engage in anticompetitive behavior.
Klobuchar, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for president in 2020, said in the statement the legislation would allow “serious financial consequences” to combat the United States’ “major monopoly problem.” Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, another Democratic presidential candidate, has put up billboards in tech-heavy Silicon Valley calling to “BREAK UP BIG TECH.”
MacDailyNews Take: Again, it’ll be interesting to see the breakdown of political candidate contributions from employees of the big tech firms during the 2020 race.
SEE ALSO:
Senator Elizabeth Warren’s simple solutions, like breaking up Apple, won’t work – March 13, 2019
Senator Elizabeth Warren wants to break up Apple, too – March 11, 2019
Trump administration backs Apple in U.S. Supreme Court over App Store antitrust suit – November 26, 2018
Apple defends App Store fees in U.S. Supreme Court – November 26, 2018
Apple defends App Store fees as U.S. Supreme Court weighs consumer suit – November 23, 2018
Apple wants U.S. Supreme Court to undo previous decision regarding an antitrust suit – October 31, 2018
U.S. Supreme Court will decide if Apple’s App Store is an anti-competitive monopoly – June 19, 2018
U.S. Supreme Court to consider Apple appeal in antitrust suit over App Store prices – June 18, 2018
US DOJ sides with Apple over App Store antitrust allegations in Supreme Court brief – May 10, 2018
Harris Poll: Corporate reputations can become politically polarized – February 9, 2017
9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals revives antitrust lawsuit against Apple – January 13, 2017
Silicon Valley donated 60 times more to Clinton than to Trump – November 7, 2016
99% of Silicon Valley’s political dollars are going to Hillary Clinton – October 25, 2016
Apple’s politics may be hurting its brand – June 29, 2016
Apple refuses to aid 2016 GOP presidential convention over Trump comments – June 18, 2016
Apple and Silicon Valley employees love Bernie Sanders. Donald Trump? Not so much – May 6, 2016
Apple among top employers of Bernie Sanders donors – April 20, 2016
Apple App Store antitrust complaint dismissed on procedural grounds by U.S. judge – August 16, 2013
Apple employees donate $15 to Obama for every $1 to Romney – July 27, 2012
Apple, other tech firm employees’ contributions favor Democrats over Republicans, Obama over Clinton – April 14, 2008
Why is it that most management and employees of the big tech companies are liberal Democrats, in spite of the fact that Democratic politicians want to put them all out of business? I must be missing something, other than they all must be crazy.
Because employees of the big tech companies are the ones best able to see the lack of conscience and accountability that corporate cultures foster.
No they don’t want to just put them out of business. That’s jus an ignorant comment.
LOL.
The most successful Americans. Liberals and Democrats.
And all you can do is whine.
Stepped right in that pile, didn’t you.
You are seriously a dumb mf’er…
Actually not but thanks for playing.
Correct. Stupid X is too stupid to realize it. SHAMELESS STUPIDITY for his blathering diarrhea mouth. Thanks for playing stupid X…
gob of snot shows up with a brilliant comment
waaaaaaahhhh mommy he’s being mean to me. idiot
Bull****. They could get the ball rolling on this now if they really wanted to. The dem campaigning looks a lot like a vacation to me, go tax dollars. 🙄
“Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, another Democratic presidential candidate, has put up billboards in tech-heavy Silicon Valley calling to “BREAK UP BIG TECH.””
Seems like she’s already decided they’re guilty. I guess she’s a believer in due process.
Espousing a point of view is not a mandate. You however, are a perverted piece of humanity living in your parents’s basement jerking off to underwear categories.
LOL, seriously?
“ I guess she’s a believer in due process.”
She is dumb as a box of rocks. Not just her but the Democratic Party. President Trump was exonerated in public opinion, not by Mueller because he does not have the authority to do so. His job was to recommend charges or not charge.
Agree, Warren is NOT a believer in “due process.” She doesn’t cut Trump any slack, same as Big Tech…
Trump is only deserving of prison. go sleep with underages, like the rest of you republican apologists. May you all go to jail for child molestation.
Nothing to apologize for. Record economy. Fake Russian investigation. Nuff said…
With the current slate of dem. Candidates, Drump already won. Get ready for another 5 years.
Congress never imposes serious fines on the corporation because it needs legal kickbacks from the corporation.
Kamala and Joe would never impose meaningful fines because the two are corporate, same with Beto and Butiegieg. Only one Senator would stand up against the corrupting influence of big private and corporate money in politics because he raises election funds the right way, from individuals, and then usualy $27/person. And neither is he a NeoLib nor a Rightwinger.