President-elect Donald Trump has signaled his intention to continue cracking down on Big Tech companies, including Google, Apple, and Meta, once he takes office. Trump’s nomination of Gail Slater to lead the Justice Department’s antitrust division is seen as a key move in this effort. Slater, an aide to Vice President-elect JD Vance, has a background in tech policy and previously worked at the Federal Trade Commission.
Trump stated that “Big Tech has run wild for years” and vowed to continue fighting against abuses by these companies. The new appointment and comments from Trump offer hope that his administration will press forward with investigations and lawsuits challenging the dominance of Google, Apple, and Meta.
Trump’s first administration initially sued Google over antitrust concerns, leading to a ruling that the tech giant illegally monopolized the search engine market. A separate phase of the trial is expected to wrap up in 2025. The Federal Trade Commission also sought to unwind Meta’s acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp.
Just days before his chairmanship appointment, Federal Communications Commission nominee Brendan Carr sent letters to Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and others predicting “broad ranging actions” once Trump takes office. This could include reviewing companies’ activities as well as third-party organizations that have curtailed First Amendment rights.
Trump’s administration is expected to take a tough stance on Big Tech, with Slater’s appointment elevating a figure who has experience in tech policy and antitrust enforcement. The new appointments and comments from Trump suggest a renewed focus on challenging the dominance of these companies.
Source: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/trump-just-gave-a-new-signal-he-isnt-going-to-let-up-on-big-tech-152023282.html