Google and Amazon Defend Home Device Business in Antitrust Hearing

Google and Amazon defended their smart-speaker businesses as US senators warned the grip the companies have over the market could harm competition and consumer privacy. Both Republicans and Democrats at a June 15 hearing raised concerns about what they said were anticompetitive practices, such as selling devices below cost and promoting companies' own services over those of competitors on their platforms. Representatives from Google and Amazon argued that they prevent this by offering an optional range of rival voice-assistant services on their own devices. The hearing marked the latest move by lawmakers to scrutinize the practices of the tech industry’s biggest companies as they consider potential reforms to antitrust laws to impose tighter regulations. Sen Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), who chairs the Senate Judiciary’s antitrust panel, and Sen Mike Lee (R-UT), the senior Republican on the antitrust panel, have both introduced their own legislation to overhaul and strengthen antitrust enforcement.