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ARTICLE · 25 MARCH 2019

FTC Announces Technology Task Force With Broad Investigative And Enforcement Powers

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On February 26, 2019, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced the formation of the Technology Task Force, which will target any anticompetitive conduct in the technology sector.

United StatesConsumer Protection
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On February 26, 2019, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced the formation of the Technology Task Force, which will target any anticompetitive conduct in the technology sector. In particular, the task force will be focused on reviewing new mergers as well as reevaluating already completed mergers of any size. For consummated mergers, the task force has the authority to reconsider prior decisions and seek the full set of remedies (including divestiture) that would have been available during the initial review of the transaction in question. 

In the past few years, the FTC has been criticized for failing to curtail perceived anticompetitive M&A activity and monopolistic behavior by large technology companies. Meanwhile, European regulators have leveed fines and launched investigations into companies for alleged anticompetitive practices. This announcement also follows a series of public hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century, which

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