Hacker News with Generative AI: Antitrust

Trump Enforcers Affirm Lina Khan's Approach to Antitrust (thebignewsletter.com)
Some big news today on the political antitrust front. The most consequential antitrust power struggle you’ve never heard of has been won… by the good guys. The short story is the Trump administration just said they will enforce antitrust law to stop harmful mergers using the guidelines that Lina Khan and Jonathan Kanter helped create in 2023.
Politics, Antitrust, Law, Mergers, Government
7 points by toomuchtodo 1 day ago | 0 comments
Microsoft Hit by French Antitrust Probe over Rivals' Bing Access (bloomberg.com)
Microsoft Corp. is under investigation from the French antitrust authority amid concerns the US tech giant is degrading the quality of results when smaller rivals pay to use Bing technology in their own search-engine products.
Antitrust, Microsoft, Search Engines, Competition, France
4 points by nabla9 10 days ago | 0 comments
China responds to tariffs with antitrust investigations of Google, Nvidia (arstechnica.com)
China has revived antitrust investigations into Google and Nvidia, while considering a new probe against Intel, as Beijing looks for leverage in talks with US President Donald Trump.
China, Antitrust, Google, Nvidia, Trade
21 points by thunderbong 16 days ago | 5 comments
Apple denied appeal in Google trial (theverge.com)
Apple won’t get to say how a Google monopoly breakup could affect its business dealings.
Apple, Google, Antitrust, Legal, Business
16 points by vessenes 17 days ago | 1 comments
Apple files emergency motion to become defendant in US vs. Google [pdf] (courtlistener.com)
Apple, Google, Lawsuits, Antitrust, Technology
391 points by zdw 20 days ago | 410 comments
Justice Department Sues to Block HPE's $14B Acquisition of Juniper Networks (justice.gov)
The Justice Department today sued to block Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co.’s (HPE) proposed $14 billion acquisition of rival wireless local area network (WLAN) technology provider Juniper Networks Inc. (Juniper).
Antitrust, Technology, Networking
9 points by impish9208 21 days ago | 0 comments
Zuckerberg urges Trump to stop the EU from fining US tech companies (politico.eu)
The U.S. government under incoming President Donald Trump should intervene to stop the EU from fining American tech companies for breaching antitrust rules and committing other violations, Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said late Friday.
Antitrust, Technology, Politics, United States, Europe
10 points by gniting 36 days ago | 2 comments
FTC, States Sue Deere and Company to Protect Farmers (ftc.gov)
FTC, Lawsuits, Agriculture, Antitrust
9 points by ChrisArchitect 36 days ago | 0 comments
FTC Sues John Deere over Its Repair Monopoly (404media.co)
The Biden administration and the states of Illinois and Minnesota sued tractor and agricultural manufacturer John Deere Wednesday, arguing that the company’s anti consumer repair practices have driven up prices for farmers and have made it difficult for them to get repairs during critical planting and harvesting seasons.
Antitrust, Agriculture, Lawsuits, Consumer Rights, Business
67 points by jbiason 36 days ago | 11 comments
Zuckerberg urges Trump to stop the EU from fining US tech companies (politico.eu)
The U.S. government under incoming President Donald Trump should intervene to stop the EU from fining American tech companies for breaching antitrust rules and committing other violations, Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said late Friday.
Antitrust, Regulation, Politics, Technology, Europe
8 points by louthy 38 days ago | 6 comments
US sues six of the biggest landlords over "algorithmic pricing schemes" (arstechnica.com)
The US Justice Department today announced it filed an antitrust lawsuit against "six of the nation's largest landlords for participating in algorithmic pricing schemes that harmed renters."
Antitrust, Lawsuits, Real Estate, Algorithms, Pricing
48 points by c5karl 44 days ago | 7 comments
DOJ Sues Six Large Landlords for Algorithmic Pricing Scheme That Harms Millions (justice.gov)
The Justice Department, together with its state co-plaintiffs, filed an amended complaint today in its antitrust lawsuit against RealPage, to sue six of the nation’s largest landlords for participating in algorithmic pricing schemes that harmed renters.
Antitrust, Lawsuits, Real Estate, Algorithms, Pricing
37 points by pseudolus 44 days ago | 9 comments
The Rise of the French Fry Cartel (jacobin.com)
After decades of consolidation, just four firms now control at least 97 percent of the $68 billion frozen potato market, the antitrust cases reveal. These four companies participate in the same trade associations and use a third-party data analytics platform — PotatoTrac — to share confidential business information. The lawsuits allege the firms’ collusion has driven french fries and hash browns to record-high prices.
Antitrust, Food Industry, Business, Economics, Corporate Collusion
17 points by mooreds 45 days ago | 1 comments
Microsoft Bundling Practices Focus of Federal Antitrust Probe (propublica.org)
The Federal Trade Commission is investigating Microsoft in a wide-ranging probe that will examine whether the company’s business practices have run afoul of antitrust laws, according to people familiar with the matter.
Antitrust, Microsoft, Business Practices
6 points by guerrilla 56 days ago | 0 comments
Google to court: we'll change our Apple deal, but please let us keep Chrome (theverge.com)
After its victory against Google in an antitrust trial earlier this year, the Department of Justice recently proposed a sweeping set of changes its search business.
Antitrust, Google, Chrome, Apple
10 points by techjamie 59 days ago | 1 comments
Germany's SPD Calls for Antitrust Act to Clip Elon Musk's Power (bloomberg.com)
A senior lawmaker from Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats railed against Elon Musk’s interference in German politics and called for a new antitrust act to constrain his influence in the corporate world.
Germany, Antitrust, Elon Musk, Politics, Business
8 points by 2OEH8eoCRo0 60 days ago | 1 comments
Google's counteroffer to the government is unbundling Android apps (theverge.com)
The Department of Justice’s list of solutions for fixing Google’s illegal antitrust behavior and restoring competition in the search engine market started with forcing the company to sell Chrome, and late Friday night, Google responded with a list of its own (included below).
Antitrust, Google, Android, Lawsuits, Competition
21 points by pseudolus 61 days ago | 7 comments
Google's counteroffer to govt trying to break it up is unbundling Android apps (theverge.com)
The Department of Justice’s list of solutions for fixing Google’s illegal antitrust behavior and restoring competition in the search engine market started with forcing the company to sell Chrome, and late Friday night, Google responded with a list of its own (included below).
Antitrust, Google, Android, Technology, Lawsuits
22 points by thunderbong 62 days ago | 2 comments
Mozilla: Proposals in US vs. Google threaten vital role of independent browsers (mozilla.org)
Giving people the ability to shape the internet and their experiences on it is at the heart of Mozilla’s manifesto. This includes empowering people to choose how they search.
Mozilla, Browsers, Competition, Antitrust, Google
64 points by botanical 63 days ago | 92 comments
Judge Blocks Kroger-Albertsons Mega-Merger (thebignewsletter.com)
Late this afternoon, Judge Adrienne Nelson issued a preliminary injunction blocking the $24 billion merger of grocery giants Kroger and Albertsons, leaving Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan with yet another big litigation win.
Business, Law, Antitrust
31 points by toomuchtodo 71 days ago | 15 comments
US antitrust watchdog launches broad Microsoft investigation (bloomberglaw.com)
The US Federal Trade Commission has opened an antitrust investigation of Microsoft Corp., drilling into everything from the company’s cloud computing and software licensing businesses to cybersecurity offerings and artificial intelligence products.
Antitrust, Microsoft, Business, Technology, Law
51 points by TowerTall 84 days ago | 13 comments
Canada Competition Bureau sues Google for anti-competitive conduct in online ads (canada.ca)
The Competition Bureau is taking legal action against Google for anti-competitive conduct in online advertising technology services in Canada. Following a thorough investigation, the Bureau has filed an application with the Competition Tribunal that seeks to remedy the conduct for the benefit of Canadians.
Antitrust, Google, Online Advertising, Canada
89 points by _aavaa_ 84 days ago | 40 comments
Microsoft Faces Broad Antitrust Investigation from US FTC (bloomberg.com)
The US Federal Trade Commission has opened an antitrust investigation of Microsoft Corp., drilling into everything from the company’s cloud computing and software licensing businesses to cybersecurity offerings and artificial intelligence products.
Antitrust, Microsoft, Business, Technology, Regulation
78 points by ndiddy 85 days ago | 67 comments
The Browser Choice Alliance (browserchoicealliance.org)
For the last decade, Microsoft has been using a variety of shifting tactics, including dark patterns and misleading user interfaces, to hinder consumers from reliably accessing their preferred browser or setting it as a default.
Browser Choice, Antitrust, Microsoft, User Experience, Technology
8 points by twapi 85 days ago | 4 comments
DOJ wraps up ad tech trial: Google is "three times" a monopolist (arstechnica.com)
One of the fastest monopoly trials on record wound down Monday, as US District Court Judge Leonie Brinkema heard closing arguments on Google's alleged monopoly in a case over the company's ad tech.
Antitrust, Google, Advertising, Law, Technology
10 points by belter 86 days ago | 2 comments
The 'Rocket Docket' Judge Who Will Decide the Fate of Google's Ad Technology (nytimes.com)
The ruling by a federal judge, Leonie Brinkema, in an antitrust case over Google’s advertising technology could add to the internet company’s woes.
Antitrust, Google, Law, Advertising, Technology
4 points by pseudolus 86 days ago | 1 comments
Apple ordered to open up in-app purchases in Brazil (techcrunch.com)
Brazil’s antitrust regulator Cade has ruled that Apple must lift restrictions on in-app purchases within 20 days, Reuters reports. Otherwise, if the iPhone maker doesn’t comply, it faces fines of $43,000 per day.
Apple, Antitrust, In-App Purchases, Brazil, Regulation
53 points by impish9208 86 days ago | 12 comments
U.S. Says Google Is an Ad Tech Monopolist, in Closing Arguments (nytimes.com)
Lawyers for the United States on Monday said that Google had created a monopoly with its services to place ads online, closing out an antitrust trial over the company’s dominance in advertising technology that could add to the Silicon Valley giant’s mounting woes.
Antitrust, Advertising, Google, Technology, Law
10 points by 2OEH8eoCRo0 87 days ago | 0 comments
Mozilla: DOJ's Plan for Chrome Risks Hurting Smaller Browsers (pcmag.com)
The Justice Department's proposal to force Google to rein in and even sell off its Chrome browser business may seem like a win for competitors such as Mozilla’s Firefox browser. But the company says the plan risks hurting smaller browsers.
Antitrust, Google, Browsers, Mozilla, Firefox
8 points by cpeterso 89 days ago | 0 comments
A 'potato cartel' conspired to make your frozen fries 47% more expensive (yahoo.com)
Multiple proposed class-action lawsuits filed this week allege that four frozen potato producers—Cavendish Farms, Lamb Weston, McCain Foods, and the J.R. Simplot Company—conspired and shared trade information to coordinate price increases in 2021.
Food Industry, Business, Antitrust, Lawsuits, Price Increases
13 points by mooreds 89 days ago | 0 comments