Google confirms it is in the DoJ crosshairs

The technology industry is facing regulatory and legislative assaults from all angles, and Google has confirmed it is attempting to help the Department of Justice with its own investigation.

It should perhaps be considered second-nature for Google to be dealing with some sort of investigation. It has been the subject of dozens of probes over the last few years, though there are some weighty ones on the horizon.

“We have answered many questions on these issues over many years, in the United States as well as overseas, across many aspects of our business, so this is not new for us,” said Kent Walker, SVP of Global Affairs at Google.

“The DOJ has asked us to provide information about these past investigations, and we expect state attorneys general will ask similar questions. We have always worked constructively with regulators and we will continue to do so.”

In July, the Department of Justice announced an antitrust investigation, though the subjects were not explicitly named. The probe will focus on how online platforms achieve market dominance and whether they are stifling competition and therefore innovation.

Aside from this probe, momentum is gathering to attack Silicon Valley. New York Attorney General Letitia James is looking into antitrust violations at Facebook, which could set some pretty damaging precedent. The House Judiciary Committee’s antitrust subcommittee is also conducting its own investigation, and soon enough Texas might be entering the fray.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has asked the press to gather on the steps of the United States Supreme Court Building in Washington DC later on today to be briefed on yet another antitrust investigation. Details are thin here for the moment, however it is another headache for Silicon Valley to consider.

The next couple of weeks will offer much more colour to the investigations, however it is becoming increasingly obvious the technology industry is going to be very different in a few years’ time. It does appear the days of the Wild West Web are coming to a close.