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Policy and regulations

Google, Facebook, Amazon’s tryst with antitrust: how to spare the iron fist, yet carry a stick

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Concept by Muhabit ul haq

Synopsis
Big Tech monopoly can be exploitative, but severely regulating such businesses or breaking them up may not be desirable. It could lead to inefficiencies and stifle innovation. Nonetheless, if regulation is indeed an option to be explored, what would be the best way to go about it? Collating certain salient principles that can help build a framework is step one.

Google started off the year on a cheery note, becoming the fourth tech company — after Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft — to join the USD1 trillion club. Nine months down the line, the US Department of Justice filed an anti-trust lawsuit against the search-engine giant for abusing its leadership position in online search and advertising to thwart competition. Knowing Google’s heft, the outcome of the case could mark a milestone for Big Tech monopoly