Consumer Watchdog Seeks FTC Action Against Google

Consumer Watchdog has asked the Federal Trade Commission to file suit against Google on antitrust grounds over its Android operating system. The call came after the European Union initially concluded that Google had abused its dominant position in search by putting restrictions on Android device manufacturers and mobile broadband Internet service providers in violation of EU antitrust rules.

Consumer Watchdog says Google has the same power and employs the same practices in the US. "Our antitrust enforcers need to step up and do their job instead of letting the Europeans do it for them,” said John Simpson, privacy project director for Consumer Watchdog. The FTC investigated Google's search practices but closed that investigation in 2013. There was talk earlier in 2016 on Capitol Hill about asking the FTC to reopen that investigation given new concerns about Google favoring its own content in local search.