According to a report by the Financial Times, a top Democratic lawmaker has called for an antitrust investigation into Facebook, in the latest sign of the political pressure on the social media giant and the government agencies that regulate it. David Cicilline, who chairs the House of Representatives’ antitrust subcommittee, on Tuesday, March 19, sent […]
Facebook is the subject of a criminal investigation by federal prosecutors over the data deals it inked with some of the biggest technology companies, reported The New York Times. Citing two people familiar with a request made by a grand jury in New York, the paper reported the grand jury has subpoenaed records from two […]
The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) budget would increase by US$2.6 million under President Donald Trump’s fiscal 2020 government spending plan, released March 11, reported Bloomberg. The Commission would receive US$312.3 million under the White House budget proposal, compared with the agency’s current funding level of US$309.7 million. The proposed increase comes as the FTC faces […]
According to an interview by the The New York Times, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Joseph J. Simons agrees with FTC critics who say it cannot protect Americans from the prying eyes of Big Tech. “We have this over 100-year-old statute that is our main authority,” Simons said in his first sit-down interview since becoming […]
Akin Gump announced that Haidee L. Schwartz, former Acting Deputy Director of the Bureau of Competition at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), will join Akin Gump as a partner in its nationally ranked antitrust/competition practice in Washington, DC. Since July 2017, Ms. Schwartz has overseen the enforcement of the U.S. antitrust laws and managed investigations […]
The Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Competition announced the creation of a task force dedicated to monitoring competition in US technology markets, investigating any potential anticompetitive conduct in those markets, and taking enforcement actions when warranted. To create the Technology Task Force, the Bureau of Competition will draw upon existing staff and expertise to enhance […]
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has reached a settlement with Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries over charges that its agreements with rivals impeded consumer access to lower-priced generic drugs, reported Reuters. Under the terms of the settlement, which is subject to court approval, the FTC will dismiss its claims against Teva and its affiliates in three outstanding […]
For 2019, the size-of-transaction threshold for reporting proposed mergers and acquisitions under Section 7A of the Clayton Act will adjust from $84.4 million to $90 million. Also, the 2019 thresholds under Section 8 of the Act that trigger prohibitions on certain interlocking memberships on corporate boards of directors are $36,564,000 for Section 8(a)(l ) and […]
A report says Facebook and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) are negotiating a “multibillion dollar” fine for the social network’s privacy lapses. The Washington Post reported Thursday, February 14, that the fine would be the largest ever imposed on a tech company. Citing unnamed sources, it also stated the two sides have not yet agreed […]
South Korea’s Supreme Court partially ruled in favor of the Korean Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) in its longstanding legal fight with US chipmaker Qualcomm over fines for unfair practices to cement its monopolistic position. The Supreme Court announced Monday, February 11, that Qualcomm should pay at least 200 billion won (US$178.4 million) in penalty out […]