FTC Creates Task Force to Oversee Competition in Tech

​The Federal Trade Commission announced on Tuesday this week that it is creating a Technology Task Force to oversee competition – including mergers & acquisitions and anti-competitive practices - in the US tech industry. The FTC said that the task force will have the capability to break up past mergers & acquisitions or spin offs in order to enhance competition. It is anticipated that the task force will comprise about 17 FTC lawyers who have experience in areas such as online advertising, social networks, mobile operating systems and apps, and platform businesses.

​The initiative comes as tech giants, such as those in the FAANG group (Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Google), face backlash over growing too large and too quickly while using mergers & acquisitions to maintain market dominance. The initiative also received support from the Retail Industry Leaders Association, whose members include the likes of Best Buy, Wal-Mart, and others who have struggled against Amazon.