Ellison calls for new FTC investigation into Google

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) is calling for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to open a new investigation into Google and how it wields its market dominance.

Ellison, the vice chairman of the Democratic National Committee, asked the FTC’s commissioners in a letter on Friday to look into the Google search practices that led to a massive fine from the European Union.

“The FTC should determine whether Alphabet has engaged in similar conduct in the United States and whether such conduct violates the FTC Act,” Ellison wrote, referring to Google’s parent company.

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Last year, the EU hit Google with a record $2.7 billion fine for elevating its own comparison shopping service in the company’s search results at the expense of rivals.

The FTC let Google off the hook after its own investigation into those practices in 2012.

Ellison urged consumer protection agency to re-examine the company in light of its massive growth  since the Obama-era investigation.

“Google’s full-year revenue was $50,175,000,000. In 2017, the company posted full-year revenue of $110,855,000,000,” Ellison wrote. “Given that the company has more than doubled in size since the last time the FTC opened an investigation, Google’s persistent and increasing dominance since 2013 further justifies opening a new investigation.”

Ellison also asked the agency for information on how it’s monitoring the company’s compliance with a 2011 consent agreement settling deceptive privacy charges.

Spokespersons for the FTC and Google did not immediately respond when asked for comment.