Facebook to face fresh anti-trust investigation | Hacker News Reader

Facebook to face fresh anti-trust investigation

bbc.com

54 pointsseagullz11 comments

If this is at all similar to the antitrust investigation I don't think they'll have to look far to show that FB used consumer data inappropriately and manipulated advertising prices.

> FB used consumer data inappropriately

I remember a few articles, say the 2-factor phone numbers used for advertising.

> and manipulated advertising prices.

I don't remember this though. Do you have a link somewhere?

I'm biased, but found these to be interesting reads. We'll see as the cases play out though. https://fitsmallbusiness.com/how-much-does-facebook-advertis...

https://www.vox.com/2018/3/7/17087468/facebook-ad-prices-inc...

twitter, snapchat, youtube

all huge platforms

Facebook isn't even close to a monopoly.

Facebook has previously claimed it is not a monopoly and said consumers can choose how to connect with friends online.

Valid point.

If all your friends are on Facebook, then it's not really a choice.

1) The dynamics of your social network aren't FB's problem (legally)

2) Your friends being on FB doesn't preclude them from being on other social networks

Yeah but your friends chose that. My friends switched to Discord and don't really use Facebook anymore. Switching was super easy and happened organically for us.

What a stupid argument. They chose a better product in their head. That's not Facebook's fault.

Well they just purchase anyone who makes a ripple in social media, so the choice might be a bit artificial there.

>Facebook has previously claimed it is not a monopoly and said consumers can choose how to connect with friends online.

That's like saying x was charged with a crime, and x defended by claiming they didn't kill anyone. Murder is a type of crime, being charged with a crime doesn't mean you are being charged with murder.

A Monopoly is just 1 type of Anti-Trust law, there are plenty of other prohibited behaviors and acts under Anti-Trust laws. So FB claim is not only not valid, but even if it were that doesn't make it a legal truth, as in saying there isn't a body so I couldn't have committed the murder (yes, you could have).

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