NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF/AP) — Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery is among the group of state AGs responding to the Justice Department’s antitrust case against Google.
The DOJ filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google on Tuesday, alleging the tech company has been abusing its dominance in online search to stifle competition and harm consumers.
Attorneys general from several states, including Tennessee, have also been conducting a separate but parallel investigation into Google. Slatery joined AGs from Iowa, Colorado, Arizona, New York, North Carolina, Utah and Nebraska to release a statement Tuesday, saying they will conclude parts of their investigation soon.
If they decide to file a complaint against Google, they would combine their case with the DOJ’s.
Read their full statement below:
“Over the last year, both the DOJ and state attorneys general have conducted separate but parallel investigations into Google’s anticompetitive market behavior. We appreciate the strong bipartisan cooperation among the states and the good working relationship with the DOJ on these serious issues. This is a historic time for both federal and state antitrust authorities, as we work to protect competition and innovation in our technology markets. We plan to conclude parts of our investigation of Google in the coming weeks. If we decide to file a complaint, we would file a motion to consolidate our case with the DOJ’s. We would then litigate the consolidated case cooperatively, much as we did in the Microsoft case.”
The litigation marks the government’s most significant act to protect competition since its groundbreaking case against Microsoft more than 20 years ago.
The nation’s antitrust laws are in place to regulate the conduct and organization of corporations. They’re generally meant to keep the market free, open and competitive to benefit consumers.
Google has long denied the claims of unfair competition. The company argues that although its businesses are large, they are useful and beneficial to consumers.
