The Justice Department is laying the groundwork for an antitrust investigation into Google’s search practices, according to two sources close to the situation.
The DOJ has wrested jurisdiction over the issue away from the Federal Trade Commission, which wrapped an investigation into Google in 2013 without bringing charges against the company.
The department's move ratchets up the political pressure on Google and its Silicon Valley counterparts at a time when the tech industry’s competition and privacy practices are under close scrutiny in Washington.
This story is developing and will be updated.
Article originally published on POLITICO Magazine