US: AG Barr wants Big Tech probe finished next year

US Attorney General William Barr has signaled he wants to finish the antitrust investigation into US technology giants next year.

“I think it’s important to move quickly on these things as they have a cost to companies,” Barr said. “I’d like to have it completed sometime next year.”

The news may come as a relief for investors in some of America’s biggest tech firms who have been concerned about the damage of a protracted probe. The names of the firms being investigated haven’t been revealed. Some of the biggest tech firms in America are Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Google owner Alphabet and Facebook.

Barr was speaking at The Wall Street Journal CEO Council summit in Washington, DC, on Tuesday.

A few months ago, the Justice Department said it would initiate a review of tech firms including social-media giants, online retailers and search platforms. Barr has acted swiftly on President Trump’s wish for tech investigations. “We started in earnest in July. It’s been moving very quickly and we have a very ambitious schedule,” He said.

Barr indicated that the Justice Department is looking into areas beyond anticompetitive practices that could be prosecuted under antitrust law. Other issues include potential bias in search results by Google.

“We are also looking at behaviors across the board and that means other laws,” he said.

Full Content: Barrons

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