en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Stoller
2 corrections found
a 4 billion Euro fine given by European regulators to Google
The 2017 European Commission fine that Open Markets praised was €2.42 billion, not €4 billion.
Full reasoning
The page is referring to Open Markets' June 27, 2017 statement praising EU antitrust action against Google. New America's archived Open Markets page shows that statement was published on June 27, 2017. On that same date, the European Commission's official press release announced: "Antitrust: Commission fines Google €2.42 billion" in the Google Shopping case.
So the amount in the article is incorrect. A roughly €4.3 billion Google fine was imposed in a different EU case in 2018 involving Android, which appears to be the likely source of the confusion. But the 2017 fine discussed here was €2.42 billion, not €4 billion.
2 sources
- Open Markets - New America
Open Markets Applauds the European Commission's Finding Against Google for Abuse of Dominance ... Jun 27, 2017.
- European Commission press release: Antitrust: Commission fines Google €2.42 billion for abusing dominance as search engine by giving illegal advantage to own comparison shopping service
Brussels, 27 June 2017 ... Antitrust: Commission fines Google €2.42 billion ...
was the first state attorney general to sue Google based on antitrust law.
This is incorrect because Hawley did not sue Google while Missouri attorney general; he launched an antitrust investigation. Missouri joined an antitrust lawsuit against Google in 2020, after Hawley had left office.
Full reasoning
Josh Hawley's own Senate website describes what he did as Missouri attorney general as an antitrust investigation into Google, not a lawsuit. One Hawley press release says he was "the first AG in the country to launch an antitrust investigation into Google," and another says, "I launched a sweeping antitrust investigation of Google when I was Missouri Attorney General."
Missouri's official historical listing shows Hawley served as attorney general from 2017 to 2019 and resigned on January 3, 2019. The major antitrust lawsuit against Google involving Missouri was filed later: the U.S. Department of Justice announced on October 20, 2020 that it, along with eleven states including Missouri, had filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against Google.
So the article incorrectly turns Hawley's investigation into a lawsuit. The more accurate claim would be that Hawley was the first state AG to launch an antitrust investigation into Google.
4 sources
- Sens. Hawley, Blumenthal Write to DOJ: If Investigating Google, It Must Include Search - Josh Hawley
As Attorney General of Missouri in 2017, Senator Hawley was the first AG in the country to launch an antitrust investigation into Google.
- Senator Hawley Statement on DOJ Antitrust Lawsuit Against Google - Josh Hawley
That is why I launched a sweeping antitrust investigation of Google when I was Missouri Attorney General...
- Missouri Attorney Generals - Missouri Secretary of State
Joshua D. Hawley (R) ... 2017-19 ... Hawley resigned January 3, 2019 after being elected to the U.S. Senate.
- Justice Department Sues Monopolist Google For Violating Antitrust Laws | United States Department of Justice
Tuesday, October 20, 2020 ... Today, the Department of Justice — along with eleven state Attorneys General — filed a civil antitrust lawsuit ... The participating state Attorneys General offices represent ... Missouri ...