The U.S Federal Government has its eyes on Big Tech. Google's just the start.

Big Tech must love the courthouse, since it seems to be a frequent hotspot for those in the industry right now.

After Google’s landmark antitrust ruling on Monday, it appears my feed is flooded with other lawsuits currently in the pipeline from the U.S. federal government. (Even Elon Musk is involved in some messy court drama, but we’ll save that for another time.)

I’m unsure if it’s the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon, or if the U.S. government is cracking down on Big Bad Tech-Wolves. Either way, it’s worth talking about.

Because it would appear that the parade of major federal cases challenging the power of these guys is just getting started.

(Cue, popcorn.)

Under the Trump administration, the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission started investigating the largest of the large, Amazon, Apple, Google and Meta, for monopolistic behaviour.

As we know, Google has since been sued twice. But the government has also sued all four companies in an effort to pull down their tyranny and promote some healthy competition.

So, this is what Future meant when he said Feds Did a Sweep.

And a sweep is exactly what’s happening. Silicon Valley's biggest tech giants have government lawsuits pending. These accuse them all of operating in anticompetitive ways. Not to mention Google’s about to face another antitrust case for its online advertising practices.

The investigations by the DOJ, the FTC and numerous other attorneys have been long in the works but are now approaching their peak.

Here’s what currently stands for each one:

Amazon

Good ol’ Bezos never disappoints when it comes to getting in trouble for his ethics. Last year, the FTC and 17 states’ Attorneys Generals filed an antitrust lawsuit against the company. Their argument? Amazon uses strategies that stifle competition on price and product selection. This severely limits the possibility of real competition to arise.

Amazon, of course, has vowed to fight, like they all do. A trial date has been set for October 2026.

Meta

Another controversial figure not unknown to the courthouse. The social media giant was one of the first Big Tech companies to face legal pressure from the government. Meta was accused of engineering a monopoly by buying any competitors that threatened Facebook's dominance. This led to the 2020 FTC lawsuit.

Meta has countered that it didn't buy Instagram and WhatsApp a decade ago to stifle competition. So the tech giant argued for the case to be thrown out.

In 2021, the judge handling the case did throw it out. However, they allowed the government to refile a complaint the following year, so the case has since carried on.

Apple

This March, Apple was accused of blocking competitors in the smartphone market by preventing them from offering their products to Apple customers. This came after a five-year long investigation.

The case argued that Apple used its dominant position in the market for devices and servicing apps to prevent customers from switching phones. They also don't allow users to have non-Apple products on their iPhones. (Which is SO VALID.)

Google

I already told y’all, go read about it before you ask me to double-handle!

And just in case that's not enough, Don Lemon sues Elon over a cancelled X deal.

And Elon sues advertisers for a supposed boycott.

Are we surprised?

Lemon, a former CNN reporter, claims X refused to pay him after an interview with its billionaire owner.

In a separate case, X brings forward an antitrust suit accusing advertisers of a boycott. The company is claiming members of the Global Alliance for Responsible Media coordinated to dissuade brands from advertising on the platform.

Orrrrr maybe they just didn’t want their content popping up next to racist propaganda?

Is it hot in here or what!

This is all feeling very tense. One thing I can say is that I’m glad somebody (the U.S. government, in this case) is drawing a line in the sand.

These Big Bad Tech Dudes have ruled over the market for SO LONG. And they've left little to no room for new players that could potentially further advance the industry in ways we haven’t yet imagined.

Putting laws in place that would prevent them from having so much power isn't the worst idea.

What to do amongst all this mess?

Stay informed on legal issues and keep up-to-date with any changing regulations. This can help you anticipate market shifts so you can adjust your strategies accordingly!

And take advantage of the disruptions in the market! Use this time to gain a competitive edge and attract customers seeking alternatives.

Now if we can topple the Big Food monopoly while we’re at it, that would be swell. These prices are DIABOLICAL.

-Sophie, Writer