This archive report was first published on 26 September 2019.
Published on September 26, 2019, the US Justice Department has launched an antitrust investigation into Facebook to determine whether the social media giant violated Federal antitrust laws.
According to reports, the investigation was initiated at the urging of US Attorney General William Barr, who has been a vocal critic of tech giants like Facebook.
The investigation will focus on separate behavior from the Federal Trade Commission's probe, which is examining whether Facebook's acquisitions were intended to stifle competition.
Attorneys general from several states and Washington DC are also investigating Facebook over potential antitrust violations, citing concerns that the social network has gained its prominence by buying up its competition.
As the largest social network in the world, Facebook has become an integral part of people's lives online, but critics argue that its dominance is a result of its aggressive acquisition strategy.
The double investigations come after months of lawmakers arguing that tech giants like Facebook need to be broken up, and the Justice Department's probe is a significant development in this ongoing debate.
