https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/07/29/apple-google-facebook-amazon-congress-hearing/
Congress on Wednesday is starting to grill the top executives from Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google in a landmark antitrust hearing that could pave the way for sweeping changes targeting Silicon Valley.
The high-profile interrogation on Capitol Hill caps off a roughly year-long investigation by House lawmakers, and though its stated focus is competition, the hearing is expected to be a broad review of the tech giants’ business practices — from the way they handle online content to the treatment of their workers.
“Google aims to build products that increase access to opportunity for everyone,” Pichai said.
Google is being investigated not just by the federal government but also by a coalition of states and occasionally by the European Union for its tremendous size and dominant position in digital advertising and Web search. Lawmakers are increasingly focusing on what Google’s size means for its competitors, sidestepping Google’s argument that it is beneficial for users.
Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos noted in his opening statement that consumers press Amazon to do what’s best for them as he rebuts lawmaker claims that the company’s clout stifles competition.
“Customer obsession has driven our success, and I take it as an article of faith,” Bezos said as he read from his opening statement. “The customers notice when you do the right thing. You earn trust slowly over time by doing hard things well, delivering on time, offering everyday low prices, making promises and keeping them, and making principled decisions even when they are unpopular.”
Facebook’s argument is that it has plenty of competitors in the social media industry, including fast-growing TikTok. YouTube also has nearly as many users. And the digital ad market is a duopoly in which Facebook competes closely with Google.
Congress on Wednesday is starting to grill the top executives from Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google in a landmark antitrust hearing that could pave the way for sweeping changes targeting Silicon Valley.
The high-profile interrogation on Capitol Hill caps off a roughly year-long investigation by House lawmakers, and though its stated focus is competition, the hearing is expected to be a broad review of the tech giants’ business practices — from the way they handle online content to the treatment of their workers.
- For Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, the hearing marks his first appearance on Capitol Hill. The e-commerce giant is bound to face a barrage of questions from lawmakers who contend that Amazon previously misled the committee about the inner-workings of its online marketplace. (Bezos owns The Washington Post.)
- The other three chief executives — Tim Cook of Apple, Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook and Sundar Pichai of Google — have become accustomed to the congressional hot seat. This time they are facing off against lawmakers who have heard from a range of competing companies and digital experts, who say Silicon Valley is too big and powerful, harming new online players and resulting in higher prices or worse service for consumers.
- The hearing is supposed to inform lawmakers’ efforts to rethink federal antitrust laws, perhaps making it easier for the federal government to probe and penalize tech giants and other large businesses. The inquiry coincides with a federal and state law-enforcement probes targeting Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google. A lawsuit against Google, in particular, could come as soon as this summer.
- Lawmakers are conducting the hearing over videoconferencing software because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, allowing the tech executives to testify from the West Coast, while some members of Congress attend the hearing in person.
- The hearing started about an hour late at 1 p.m. Eastern. Lawmakers opened with statements, followed by each of the CEOs.
“Google aims to build products that increase access to opportunity for everyone,” Pichai said.
Google is being investigated not just by the federal government but also by a coalition of states and occasionally by the European Union for its tremendous size and dominant position in digital advertising and Web search. Lawmakers are increasingly focusing on what Google’s size means for its competitors, sidestepping Google’s argument that it is beneficial for users.
Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos noted in his opening statement that consumers press Amazon to do what’s best for them as he rebuts lawmaker claims that the company’s clout stifles competition.
“Customer obsession has driven our success, and I take it as an article of faith,” Bezos said as he read from his opening statement. “The customers notice when you do the right thing. You earn trust slowly over time by doing hard things well, delivering on time, offering everyday low prices, making promises and keeping them, and making principled decisions even when they are unpopular.”
Facebook’s argument is that it has plenty of competitors in the social media industry, including fast-growing TikTok. YouTube also has nearly as many users. And the digital ad market is a duopoly in which Facebook competes closely with Google.
