The U.S. Attorney General must have his reasons.
From Reuters: Exclusive: U.S. Justice Department considering Apple probe
The U.S. Justice Department has jurisdiction for a potential probe of Apple Inc as part of a broader review of whether technology giants are using their size to act in an anti-competitive manner, two sources told Reuters.
The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) met in recent weeks and agreed to give the Justice Department the jurisdiction to undertake potential antitrust probes of Apple and Google, owned by Alphabet Inc, the sources said.
The FTC was given jurisdiction to look at Amazon.com Inc and Facebook Inc, the sources said.
The sources did not say what the government’s potential concern might be regarding Apple. (emphasis mine)
My take: Why am I not surprised? This wouldn’t be the first time the DOJ has gone after the wrong target.
“Why exactly is Bill Barr investigating Apple?”
My answer, clear and simple: he hasn’t got a clue….
I think that no-one in this administration can differentiate between the business-models of Apple, Amazon, Google or Facebook.
Yes, Apple is the only one who is offering a way to bring apps to iOS-Devices, BUT, look at the crap that is sold one Googles Android-Store.
Particular when it comes to privacy-related things, like apps that are spying on you.
But, to be honest: “anti-competitive” do sound nice, doesn’t it?
I find the timing of this Reuters story Interesting and suspicious. It was released just after the keynote started, while AAPL was quite green. Stepped totally on any positive Apple news coming out of WWDC.
A lot of money was made by some players yesterday as a direct result of this story.
Interestingly, the DOJ filed a lengthy brief in SUPPORT of Apple’s position for the Supreme Court case that was ruled 5-4 against Apple just a few weeks ago. The case was about allowing consumers to bring an anti-trust suit on the app store despite the precedent of Illinois Brick. It does not seem like the DOJ has any kind of eagle eye on Apple for anti-trust.
Oldest trick in the magician book – distraction.