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YouTube Critics Call for US Investigation into Video Site's Dominance in the Living Room

Tech and competition watchdog groups urge US Department of Justice to investigate YouTube's dominance in the living room. Concerns raised about YouTube's growth as a competitor to cable and streaming services. YouTube's pre-installation on smartphones and TVs sold in the US raises regulatory concerns.

In a letter addressed to Jonathan Kanter, the antitrust chief at the Justice Department, the American Economic Liberties Project, Demand Progress, and nine other organisations expressed their worries about YouTube's rapid expansion as a competitor to cable and streaming services, as well as its pre-installation on smartphones and TVs sold in the United States.


The groups are pushing for a full study of YouTube, which is presently one of the leading streaming providers in the United States. Given Google's already dominant position in the internet search market and its leadership in online advertising technology, critics argue that YouTube's decade-long track record of leveraging its dominance across multiple markets to stifle competition, lock in customers, and promote bundled services warrants regulatory scrutiny.


The recent expansion of YouTube TV, the company's subscription streaming service, has heightened fears about Google's potential "living room dominance," according to the groups. A YouTube representative responded by emphasising the fierce competition in the streaming business, which pits the platform against major firms like Netflix and Disney+, as well as other video platforms like Meta's Instagram and TikTok.


Alphabet stated that YouTube's quarterly ad income surpassed $8 billion in April, a 21% rise over the same month last year. Philipp Schindler, a Google official, stated that YouTube has been the most popular streaming service in the United States for more than a year, citing Nielsen audience analytics data.


It's worth noting that Google is already facing two antitrust cases from the Justice Department and several states. One case says that the corporation has monopolised the online search market, while another contends that it dominates the digital advertising technology sector. Google has vigorously defended itself in both cases, claiming that its achievement was obtained by legal means.


The advocacy groups say that YouTube is an important part of Google's monopoly, comparing it to the conduct challenged in the search case. In that case, antitrust enforcers have accused Google of maintaining online search dominance through multibillion-dollar revenue sharing agreements with smartphone manufacturers.


Lee Hepner, a lawyer at the American Economic Liberties Project, drew parallels between the concerns raised about YouTube and the conduct under scrutiny in the search case. He questioned the purpose of Google TV, claiming that it is largely a distribution system for Google's streaming service.


Antitrust concerns about Big Tech have continued through multiple administrations. Under the Trump administration, lawsuits were brought against Google and Facebook's parent company, Meta Platforms. President Joe Biden's antitrust enforcers have increased their scrutiny, filing a second complaint against Google and opening investigations into Amazon.com and Apple.

 
  • Tech and competition watchdog groups urge US Department of Justice to investigate YouTube's dominance in the living room.

  • Concerns raised about YouTube's growth as a competitor to cable and streaming services.

  • YouTube's pre-installation on smartphones and TVs sold in the US raises regulatory concerns.


Source: REUTERS



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