48 US states open antitrust probe against Google

Attorney generals from 48 US states are to open an antitrust probe into Google to investigate whether its advertising practices violate current laws.

According to Bloomberg, the investigation will be led by Texas state Attorney General, Ken Paxton. It will include attorney generals from 48 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Alabama and California will not be involved in the probe.

The announcement confirms last week’s reports about the bipartisan antitrust probe into Google’s advertising practices.

The latest investigation will focus on Google’s dominance and control of digital advertising industry. The probe could be extended later to include some of Google’s other businesses, as hinted by some members of the group.

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“This is a company that dominates all aspects of advertising on the internet and searching on the internet,” Paxton said at the press conference held outside the Supreme Court building in Washington, DC.

“It’s an investigation to determine the facts. Right now it’s about advertising, but the facts will lead where they lead,” Paxton added.

According to Paxton, the group is concerned over complaints that Google is increasing costs for advertisers and that the internet users are probably not getting the best information from Google’s search results.

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