Google, Facebook, Amazon, Apple Push Back on House Tech Concerns

Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple defended their business practices in responses to detailed questions by House Antitrust Subcommittee lawmakers. The four companies received the questions from Subcommittee Chairman David Cicilline (D-RI) in Sept. Separately, the whole committee issued requests for extensive records on the firms’ business practices, acquisitions, executive communications and other issues. The companies also are in the process of responding to those requests.

Google disputed the idea that it controls too much of the search market and the digital ad ecosystem. Facebook defended policies that restricted some third-party app developers from using its platform, insisting it has never tied access to its data to spending on advertising even though documents from a lawsuit have told a different story. Amazon pushed back against criticism that it unfairly competes with third-party sellers in its marketplace with its own products, saying its decision-making for how third-party sellers are treated is driven by a desire to give consumers wide selection, low prices and convenient delivery. Apple pointed out that there are many apps that compete with its own services such as web browsing, maps, music and video.