Big tech investigation focused on abuse of data, DOJ antitrust chief says

The Department of Justice’s investigation into online platforms is focused on the possibility that tech firms could use data they’ve gathered from customers to block competitors from markets they manage, according to the agency’s top antitrust official.

“If we found that they had market power in a specific, you know, in a defined market, and they have data that they could use to prevent a competitor from challenging that market? Then that could be a violation, yes, absolutely,” Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim told the Washington Examiner, referring to big tech corporations such as Facebook and Google.