DOJ, state AGs likely to launch antitrust lawsuits against Google: report

The Department of Justice (DOJ) and a group of state attorneys general are likely to file antitrust lawsuits against Google, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

People familiar with the matter told the Journal that the DOJ is moving toward bringing a case this summer. Some state attorneys general, lead by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), are reportedly likely to bring a case in the fall.

The states’s investigations have focused on Google’s advertising business, an arena where the company enjoys dominance at every point in the process.

Paxton told the Journal in a statement, “We hope to have the investigation wrapped up by fall [and] if we determine that filing is merited, we will go to court soon after that.”

The DOJ’s investigation is more broadly focused on concerns that Google uses its dominant search business to hurt competition, according to the Journal.

The Hill has reached out to the DOJ for comment on the report.

A spokeswoman for Google told The Hill that the company continues to engage with the ongoing investigations led by the Department of Justice and Paxton, and “we don’t have any updates or comments on speculation.”

“Our focus is firmly on providing services that help consumers, support thousands of businesses, and enable increased choice and competition,” the spokeswoman said.

The DOJ announced last year that it is investigating several tech giants. The Federal Trade Commission has also been investigating antitrust concerns in the space.

The states launched their probe into Google last year.