Too much Power?: America's Congress went over to the Tech giants

In the us Congress has already given it to multiple public hearings with prominent representatives of the technology industry. Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of the social network Facebook, was quoted two years ago to Washington, as the data scandal Cambridge Analytica shook his company. A few years right before Tim Cook, the CEO of the electronics group Apple made, in consultation with the tax practices in his house.

Roland Lindner

economic correspondent in New York.

this Wednesday is a special spectacle is now on the program: Before a Committee of the house of representatives of four CEOs of American technology giants are to statements.

in addition to Zuckerberg and Cook are Jeff Bezos of Online retailer Amazon.com and Sundar Pichai of the Alphabet-Holding Google to the Internet group. Just on Jeff Bezos is likely to focus the attention, not only because he is currently the richest person in the world, but also because he, in contrast to his colleagues for the first Time such a hearing.

the FTC determined

The event has, according to the Congress Committee, the goal is to check the "dominance" of the four companies. The panel has begun a little more than a year of investigations that revolve around "the market power of the giant Tech platforms".

And this is only one of several institutions of the American government, are currently studying the issues of competition in the industry. Also, the Ministry of justice and consumer protection authority, the FTC initiated antitrust investigations.

This increased pressure comes after the American government had been kept, in relation to the large technology corporations to be too lenient. Antitrust proceedings against Google, for example, delivery some time ago, largely into the Void. In contrast, the EU has imposed-Commission multi-billion fines against the company. According to media reports, it could come now, but also in America in the near future an antitrust lawsuit against Google.

share prices to all-time highs

The hearing on Wednesday is due to the Corona-crisis expected to be a bit different to drain than usual. It is expected that the four CEOs by video conference statements, so you will not be in Washington. The usual television pictures, in which CEOs stand in front of politicians and the Hand for the oath of lifting, can therefore be dispensed with.