The Justice Department said on Tuesday that it would start an antitrust review into how powerful internet companies had accumulated market power and whether they had acted to reduce competition, in another threat to the growing power of America’s technology giants.
The Justice Department did not name specific companies in a news release announcing the review, but noted that it would look into concerns about search, social media and some retail services — presumably putting Google, Facebook and Amazon on notice.
This latest review comes on the heels of the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission splitting up potential antitrust investigations into the three companies and Apple.
Google and Facebook declined to comment. Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Apple referred to comments made by Tim Cook, the company’s chief executive, in a recent television interview.
“I think we should be scrutinized,” Mr. Cook said. “But if you look at any kind of measure about ‘is Apple a monopoly or not,’ I don’t think anybody reasonable is going to come to the conclusion that Apple’s a monopoly.”
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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