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1. What will the new FTC tech taskforce do?
The Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Competition (FTC) has announced a new task force that will focus on antitrust behavior in the tech industry and its giants (FTC.gov).
- A 17 person strong task force will examine the industry and conduct investigations, focusing on both upcoming mergers and acquisition, along with past mergers, curiously.
- It's part of a crackdown and the first big move to tackle the forces of Facebook, Google, Apple, and Amazon (France24) from the US government, following public concerns.
- It will "enhance the Bureau's focus on technology-related sectors of the economy, including markets in which online platforms compete."
- Many have long argued that anti-competitive behavior is rife in the tech industry.
- AFP writes: "FTC chairman Joe Simons said he called for the task force after a series of hearings on antitrust enforcement.
- "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," Simons said in the statement. "The technology task force is the next step in that effort.""
- The EU has been far more active in gigantic fines and rules – read: "A Brief History of the Impact of E.U. Antitrust Fines on Tech Stocks" via the NYTimes.
- But the US has let its (homegrown) trillion dollar companies emerge and dominate multiple markets, and hasn't cracked down since United States v. Microsoft Corp back in 2001.
- The cries have grown louder to break up the Four, as they're known.
- Here's just one opinion from Robert Reich, a former US labor secretary: "Break up Facebook (and while we're at it, Google, Apple, and Amazon)" (The Guardian).
What's it all mean?
- The proof will be in the pudding, as they say.
- Remember, the idea of a free market in these terms is that anyone can launch a startup or new technology or idea and not be crushed by the incumbents simply because they're so big and powerful.
- Where has the FTC been over the past decade or so? Will the FTC really walk back the merger of Facebook and Instagram or Whatsapp for example?
- The critics aren't sure; going to court and proving a violation of Federal antitrust law is not exactly a walk in the park and doesn't happen without copious amounts of proof.
Two critics:
- Via Wired: "I'm scornful of the new seating arrangements, because the FTC has consistently proven they do not want to wield power […] They don't want to do their No. 1 job, which is to police markets for unfair and anticompetitive behavior,' said Matt Stoller, a fellow at the Open Markets Institute, an antimonopoly think tank.
- Via Business Insider (paywall): "The idea of breaking up any company, particularly a company that doesn't have easily separable assets like a tech company, that's the nuclear option and it's almost never used," said Mark Ostrau, an antitrust lawyer with Fenwick & West."
In any case, too late is better than never.
2. The best phones of MWC 2019 (Android Authority).
3. Samsung's new 512GB flash storage chip (eUFS 3.0) is twice as fast as its predecessor (AA).
4. That Apple Music coming to Google Home devices story fizzled out – Google blaming a bug for Apple's service appearing on Home speakers (AA).
5. Facebook's rip-off Patreon clone wants to skim up to 30% from fan subscriptions vs Patreon's 5% (TechCrunch). But it's so much worse than that: Facebook grants itself lifelong IP rights, and more in its questionable contract, as gathered up over at Boing Boing.
6. USB 3.2 is going to make the current USB branding even worse (Ars Technica).
7. Studies keep showing that the best way to stop piracy is to offer cheaper, better alternatives (Motherboard).
8. FTC brings its first case and settlement against fake paid reviews on Amazon (TechCrunch). It's on a weight loss supplement company.
9. Yes, retailers are colluding to inflate prices online – and it's an unstoppable battle of algorithms scanning every potential competitor's pricing (FastCompany).
10. Dyson has big electric car plans. But unlike Tesla, the road doesn't go through China (Fortune). A read on why Dyson is making EVs in Singapore, and what's happening with its push on solid-state batteries.
11. The Northern Hemisphere just experienced its first-ever category 5 cyclone in …February (Earther).
12. What is something super important that is on the verge of happening? (r/askreddit).
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