New FTC Task Force Will Take on Tech Monopolies (theverge.com)

The Federal Trade Commission will be launching a task force to monitor competition in the US's technology markets, commissioners announced today. From a report: The task force will include current officials working in the agency's Bureau of Competition in order to "enhance the Bureau's focus on technology-related sectors of the economy, including markets in which online platforms compete." It will also include 17 staff attorneys who will be tasked with investigating anti-competitive behavior in the tech industry. "The role of technology in the economy and in our lives grows more important every day," FTC Chairman Joe Simons said. "As I've noted in the past, it makes sense for us to closely examine technology markets to ensure consumers benefit from free and fair competition."

Comments

typo in that

[mnemotronic]

The Federal Trade Commission will be launching a task force to monitor competition in the US’s technology markets ... in order to“enhance the Bureau’s focus on technology-related sectors of the economy, especially organizations in which the owners challenge the integrity, intelligence or competence of the current administration.”

FTFY

Re:Too little too late guys

[Penguinisto]

Lets do it _after_ the boom when the market calms down and everyone has made their money. Brilliant, lets impose taxes and watchdogging after the monopolies have been established.

Depends on what they do.

If they make a bunch of obfuscating rules that nibbles at the edges, it's worthless.

If they take a tech monopoly's patent portfolio and forces it to be FRAND-licensed at a pittance or at-best-symbolic price, then said monopoly loses a significant source of income and protection from upstarts.

If they actually start breaking up monopolies or regulate every little thing they do (a'la AT&T in the good old days before the Baby Bells), then it's probably strong enough to eventually break such monopolies."

Incidentally, the majority of Zuck's assets are tied up in FB stock, just like the majority of Bezos' stock is tied up in AMZN... cheapen that, and you start taking money away from them.

Not advocating for or against, just stating possibilities.