FTC, DOJ launch joint public inquiry of merger rules focused on big tech

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission and Justice Department want to update merger rules that will affect Apple and other tech giants, in a joint effort to prevent illegal or anticompetitive acquisitions or mergers from taking place.The FTC and DOJ's Antitrust Division launched a joint public inquiry on Tuesday, with the aim of 'strengthening enforcement against illegal mergers,' an FTC statement reads. By this, it means to crack down on any acquisitions and mergers that could reduce or harm competition in industries in a variety of ways.'Illegal mergers can inflict a host of harms, from higher prices and lower wages to diminished opportunity, reduced innovation, and less resiliency,' said FTC Chair Lina M. Khan. 'This inquiry launched by the FTC and DOJ is designed to ensure that our merger guidelines accurately reflect modern realities and equip us to forcefully enforce the law against unlawful deals.' Read more...