16 ms·
A breakup is highly unlikely IMO. Not only has the U.S. govt not been keen to break up monopolies in the last ~30 years, but it actually let AT&T reconstitute
by blihp 7y ago
A breakup is highly unlikely IMO. Not only has the U.S. govt not been keen to break up monopolies in the last ~30 years, but it actually let AT&T reconstitute itself by re-acquiring most (all?) of the former baby Bells ~20 years after breaking them up.
In addition, the current administration has taken an absolutely anti-regulation approach if you get/stay in their good graces. I suspect that something closer to a toothless consent decree with certain <cough> accommodations to the administration would make this all go away. Not saying it's right, just that it seems the most likely.
- cameronbrown 7y agoNone of the tech companies are in the US administration's good graces right now if Trump is to be believed: https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/1163478770587721729 https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/11634787705877217... Similar comments about most of the tech industry can also be found on his Twitter.
- blihp 7y agoRight, my point exactly. Now given what we've already seen from this administration, imagine Alphabet/Google took the path of least resistance and gave the administration what they want. What is the likely outcome of the antitrust situation then?
- ptlu 7y agoThese are states bringing g this issue. So it isn’t up to this particular administration in this case or even the DOJ.
- blihp 7y agoJust because the States are kicking this off / working together doesn't mean that they will ultimately have jurisdiction over (most of) the charges they may want to pursue. Interstate commerce is an enumerated power in the Constitution so it may not be their call to make.