Facebook, Google face off against a formidable new foe: State attorneys general | Washington Post

Also see How Each Big Tech Company May Be Targeted by Regulators | NYT and 15 Ways Facebook, Google, Apple and Amazon Are in Government Cross Hairs | NYT

"The nation’s state attorneys general have tangled with mortgage lenders, tobacco giants and the makers of addictive drugs. Now, they’re setting their sights on another target: Big Tech.

Following years of federal inaction, the state watchdogs are initiating sweeping antitrust investigations against Silicon Valley’s largest companies, probing whether they undermine rivals and harm consumers. Their latest salvo arrives Monday, when more than 40 attorneys general are expected to announce their plan to investigate Google, delivering a rare rebuke of the search-and-advertising giant — and its efforts to maintain that dominance — from the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court.

The states seek to probe allegations that the tech industry stifles start-ups, delivers pricier or worse service for Web users, and siphons too much personal information, enriching their record-breaking revenue at the cost of consumer privacy."

Facebook, Google face off against a formidable new foe: State attorneys general | Washington Post