Apple and Google face simultaneous antitrust actions across four continents - Silicon Canals

"Apple and Google, the two companies that collectively control how more than six billion people access the internet from their pockets, are now facing coordinated antitrust enforcement actions across North America, Europe, Asia, and beyond. The simultaneous pressure marks a structural shift in how governments worldwide approach platform power."

"In the United States, the Department of Justice secured a landmark ruling in August 2024 declaring Google a monopolist in search, with remedies now being debated that could include forced divestiture of the Chrome browser. Apple, meanwhile, faces a DOJ lawsuit alleging it illegally monopolised the smartphone market through restrictive practices on the iPhone."

"The European Commission has been the most prolific enforcer. Google has accumulated over €8 billion in EU antitrust fines since 2017, covering search, advertising, and Android. Apple was hit with a €1.8 billion fine in March 2024 for restricting music streaming competitors. The EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), which came into full force in 2024, has added a new regulatory layer, requiring both companies to open their platforms to competitors or face fines of up to 10% of global revenue."

Apple and Google confront unprecedented simultaneous antitrust enforcement across multiple jurisdictions worldwide. The U.S. Department of Justice secured a landmark ruling declaring Google a monopolist in search and filed suit against Apple for allegedly monopolizing the smartphone market. The European Commission has imposed over €8 billion in fines against Google and €1.8 billion against Apple, while implementing the Digital Markets Act requiring platform openness. Japan, South Korea, India, Turkey, Brazil, and South Africa have initiated investigations or passed legislation targeting both companies' practices. This coordinated global enforcement represents the most aggressive Big Tech regulation in a generation, signaling a fundamental change in how governments approach platform power and market control.

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