A group of state attorneys general met with U.S. Attorney General William Barr on Thursday to discuss antitrust concerns related to major tech companies, as the Justice Department launches a review of whether online platforms are reducing competition.
States, including Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana, sent representatives to the Justice Department for the meeting with senior officials.
“Our bipartisan coalition of eight state attorneys general was pleased with the opportunity to meet with U.S. Attorney General Barr to talk about the real concerns consumers across the country have with big tech companies stifling competition on the internet,” participating states said in a joint statement. “It was a productive meeting and we’re considering a range of possible anti-trust actions against such companies.”
A Justice Department spokesperson declined comment. Some of the states that had planned to attend the meeting, including Nebraska and Arizona, have opened inquiries into Google’s practices. Representatives from the Nebraska and Arizona offices did not immediately return requests for comment.
The potential state action adds yet another layer to the growing scrutiny of the power of online platforms. In announcing its antitrust review this week, the DOJ said it will consider “widespread concerns” expressed about search, social media and online retail services.
Meanwhile, Facebook revealed this week that it's facing an antitrust investigation the FTC launched in June.
Article originally published on POLITICO Magazine