Timeline of Major Antitrust Actions, Laws, and Reports in the US and EU Through 2024

This timeline highlights major antitrust actions in the US and EU, including lawsuits, fines, and... Show More

This timeline highlights major antitrust actions in the US and EU, including lawsuits, fines, and investigations targeting tech giants like Google, Apple, Facebook, and Qualcomm, as regulatory authorities seek to address concerns related to monopolistic practices, anticompetitive behavior, and privacy violations in the tech industry. Show Less

Antitrust Actions and Investigations

Antitrust Action against Bell Systems (US)

1949 - 1984

IBM Antitrust Case (US)

1969 - 1982

https://cs.stanford.edu/people/eroberts/cs181/projects/corporate-monopolies/government_ibm.html

AT&T Antitrust Case (US)

1974 - 1982

https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/09/att-breakup-spinoff.asp

IBM Antitrust Settlement (US)

1982

No settlement, but the suit was dropped in 1982.
https://www.nytimes.com/1982/01/09/business/why-baxter-dropped-the-ibm-suit.html

AT&T Breakup (US)

1984

AT&T ends 7-year case by agreeing to break itself into several pieces. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/12/business/dealbook/att-antitrust.html

FTC inquiry into Microsoft and PC operating system

1990 - 1993

https://www.law.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/MaintenanceMonopoly08.pdf page 532

DOJ investigation into Microsoft PC market

1994 - June 16, 1995

https://www.law.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/MaintenanceMonopoly08.pdf page 532

Microsoft settles with DOJ

July 16, 1995

Microsoft consented not to tie other Microsoft products to the sale of Windows but remained free to integrate additional features into the operating system.
https://www.law.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/MaintenanceMonopoly08.pdf page 532

Microsoft Antitrust Case (US)

1998 - 2001

https://www.law.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/MaintenanceMonopoly08.pdf page 530

EU Investigates Microsoft (EU)

1998 - 2004

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_04_382

Microsoft and DOJ Settle

November 2, 2001

https://www.justice.gov/archive/atr/public/press_releases/2001/9463.htm

Intel Antitrust Lawsuits (US)

2005

https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/08/21/8383598/index.htm

FTC Sues Intel (US)

2009

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2009/12/ftc-challenges-intels-dominance-worldwide-microprocessor-markets

EU Investigates Google's Ad Practices (EU)

2010

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_10_1624

Apple E-Book Price Fixing Case (US)

Jan 9, 2013 - Dec 22, 2014

https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/blog/e-book-retailers-distribute-400-million-victims-apple-led-conspiracy#:~:text=The%20Antitrust%20Division%20alleged%2C%20and,to%20pay%20for%20e%2Dbooks.

Google Comparison Shopping Probe (EU)

2015

The European Commission sends a Statement of Objections to Google in 2015 for abusing its dominance in the comparison shopping service market, initiating an investigation into potential anticompetitive practices.

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_15_4780

EU Investigates Volkswagen for Antitrust Violations (EU)

2016

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/20/business/international/eu-trucks-europe-volkswagen.html

Qualcomm Antitrust Case (US)

2017 - 2019

https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/cases-proceedings/141-0199-qualcomm-inc

EU Investigates Visa (EU)

2018

https://ec.europa.eu/competition/antitrust/cases/dec_docs/39398/39398_14153_3.pdf

Apple v. Pepper

May 13, 2019

US Supreme Court, standing granted to users of apps to sue Apple for standard mark-up on apps https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/18pdf/17-204_bq7d.pdf

EU Investigates Apple's App Store Policies (EU)

2020

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_1161

Germany launches investigation into Amazon (DE)

2020

https://www.pymnts.com/cpi-posts/germany-launches-investigation-into-amazon/

Amazon EU Antitrust Investigation (EU)

2020

https://ec.europa.eu/competition/antitrust/cases/dec_docs/40703/40703_67_4.pdf

EU Investigates Facebook's Data Practices (EU)

2020

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/05/22/meta-fined-eu-facebook-data-privacy/

Google Antitrust Lawsuit (US)

2020 - Present

The Department of Justice files an antitrust lawsuit against Google in 2020, accusing the tech giant of maintaining monopolies in search and search advertising, marking a significant legal challenge to the company's practices.
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-sues-google-monopolizing-digital-advertising-technologies

Facebook Antitrust Lawsuits (US)

2020 - Present

The Federal Trade Commission and 48 state attorneys general file lawsuits against Facebook in 2020 for anticompetitive conduct, alleging violations that impact competition and consumer choice in the digital marketplace.
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2020/12/ftc-sues-facebook-illegal-monopolization

US House Judiciary Committee releases Antitrust Report on Big Tech

October 6, 2020

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/10/06/technology/house-antitrust-report-big-tech.html

Amazon Antitrust Investigation (US)

2021

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/25/technology/amazon-antitrust-lawsuit.html and
https://www.culawreview.org/journal/the-first-federal-attack-on-amazons-monopoly-power-a-conclusive-moment-in-assessing-antitrust-efficacy-in-the-digital-age#:~:text=%5B6%5D%20In%202021%20and%202022,California%20case%20was%20partially%20dismissed.
D.C. attorney general sues Amazon. The case is later tossed out by a lower court.

FTC sues to block Nvidia’s acquisition of Arm

2021

https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/cases-proceedings/2110015-nvidiaarm-matter

Amazon Monopoly Investigation (EU)

2021

https://www.reuters.com/technology/italys-antitrust-fines-amazon-113-bln-euros-alleged-abuse-market-dominance-2021-12-09/

EU Launches Antitrust Probe into Amazon (EU)

2021

https://www.reuters.com/technology/exclusive-google-seeking-settle-eu-antitrust-probe-into-adtech-source-2021-09-23/

FTC Sues to Block Illumina's Proposed Acquisition of Grail

March 2021

https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/cases-proceedings/201-0144-illumina-inc-grail-inc-matter

FTC challenges Meta’s acquisition of Within Unlimited

2022

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2022/07/ftc-seeks-block-virtual-reality-giant-metas-acquisition-popular-app-creator-within

FTC challenges Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision

2022

https://www.pymnts.com/cpi-posts/ftc-mounts-second-challenge-to-microsofts-activision-buy-despite-closed-deal/#:~:text=The%20legal%20battle%2C%20initiated%20by,acquisition%20poses%20serious%20competitive%20concerns.

DOJ Sues Google for Search Engine Dominance (US)

2023

https://searchengineland.com/google-search-antirust-trial-hearing-updates-431977#:~:text=Google%20is%20on%20trial%20for,on%20products%20like%20the%20iPhone.

FTC Sues Amazon for Antitrust Violations (US)

2023

https://www.culawreview.org/journal/the-first-federal-attack-on-amazons-monopoly-power-a-conclusive-moment-in-assessing-antitrust-efficacy-in-the-digital-age#:~:text=Undergraduate%20Law%20Review-,The%20First%20Federal%20Attack%20on%20Amazon's%20Monopoly%20Power%3A%20A%20Conclusive,against%20Amazon.com%2C%20Inc.

Epic Games v. Apple

April 24, 2023

9th Cir., 2023, Apple held not to be a monopolist in app store payment system, but liable under California’s unfair competition statute. https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca9/21-16506/21-16506-2023-04-24.html

EU Launches Antitrust Probe into Microsoft Teams (EU)

July 2023 - Present

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/jul/27/eu-antitrust-inquiry-microsofts-sale-teams-bundling#:~:text=The%20European%20Commission%20said%20the,in%20more%20than%20a%20decade.

Epic Games v. Google

Dec 11, 2023

US D. Ct., N. D. Cal., Jury rules against Google on its app store payment system

https://www.reuters.com/legal/google-epic-games-face-off-app-antitrust-trial-nears-end-2023-12-11/

US DOJ sues Apple

March, 2024

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-sues-apple-monopolizing-smartphone-markets

US District Court finds Google search dominance & exclusive deals violate antitrust

August 8, 2024

https://files.lbr.cloud/public/2024-08/045110819896.pdf?VersionId=mHMw8uSvPbFCwl.7.yAY8wRXM0.UCmrD

Fines

EU Imposes Record Fine on Intel €1.06 billion

May 2009

https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/business/global/14compete.html

EU Fines Microsoft for Not Complying with Browser Choice €561 million

2013

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/mar/06/microsoft-fined-browser-error#:~:text=Microsoft%20has%20been%20fined%20€,it%20had%20made%20in%202009.

Google Street View Privacy Violation Fine (US) $7 million

2013

https://money.cnn.com/2013/03/12/technology/google-privacy-settlement/index.html

Uber Price Fixing Fine (US)

2016

Apple Tax Recovery Order (EU) €13 billion

2016

The European Commission orders Ireland in 2016 to recover €13 billion in unpaid taxes from Apple, alleging that the tech giant received illegal state aid through favorable tax treatment.
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/15/apple-wins-backing-of-eu-court-over-13-billion-euros-in-unpaid-taxes.html

Google Chrome Browser Privacy Fine (EU)

2016

Facebook Russian Interference Fine (US)

2017

Apple Safari Cookie Tracking Fine (EU)

2017

EU Fines Amazon for Tax Benefits (EU) €250 million

2017

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/04/amazon-eu-tax-bill-luxembourg-deal.html

Google Antitrust Fine (EU) €242 million

2017

In 2017, the European Commission imposes a €2.42 billion fine on Google for abusing its dominance in the search engine market, signaling the EU's commitment to enforcing antitrust regulations.
https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/comp/items/104946/#:~:text=The%20European%20Commission%20has%20fined,Statement%20by%20Commissioner%20Vestager.

Google Search Engine Bias Fine (EU) €2.4 billion

2017

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_17_1784

Facebook WhatsApp Fine (EU) €110 million

May 18, 2017

The European Commission has fined Facebook €110 million for providing incorrect or misleading information during the Commission's 2014 investigation under the EU Merger Regulation of Facebook's acquisition of WhatsApp.
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_17_1369

Amazon Misleading Pricing Fine (EU)

2018

Apple Location Tracking Fine (EU)

2018

Facebook Cambridge Analytica Data Fine (EU) £500,000

2018

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/jul/11/facebook-fined-for-data-breaches-in-cambridge-analytica-scandal

Google Android Antitrust Fine (EU) €4.3 billion

2018

https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/18/17580694/google-android-eu-fine-antitrust

Google GDPR Fine (EU) €50 million

2018

https://www.manageengine.com/log-management/compliance-violations/google-fined-for-gdpr-violation.html#:~:text=Google%20is%20facing%20the%20largest,for%20a%20breach%20in%20Europe.

Facebook User Data Misuse Fine (US)

2018

EU Fines Qualcomm for Predatory Pricing (EU) €242 million

2019

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/da/IP_19_4350

Google Faces Record Fine for Antitrust Violations (EU) €1.49B

2019

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-03-20/google-fined-1-7-billion-by-eu-over-advertising-contracts?embedded-checkout=true

Qualcomm Antitrust Fine (EU) €242 million

2019

Qualcomm receives a €242 million fine in 2019 from the European Commission for abusing its market dominance in 3G baseband chipsets, reflecting the EU's efforts to ensure fair competition in the semiconductor industry.
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/es/ip_19_4350

Facebook Fake News Fine (US) $5 billion

2019

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/09/facebooks-antitrust-investigations-a-timeline-of-events.html#:~:text=July%2024%2C%202019%20—%20FTC%20fines,following%20the%20Cambridge%20Analytica%20scandal.

Uber Data Breach Fine (US)

2019

https://www.usitc.gov/publications/332/executive_briefings/gdpr_enforcement.pdf
Mentions Uber fine but doesn't say what for or what year

Google YouTube Children's Privacy Violation Fine (US) $170 million

2019

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/06/technology/youtube-children-privacy.html

Amazon Marketplace Practices Fine (EU)

2020

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-54887650 mentions charge but no fine in the year 2020

Amazon Data Privacy Violations Investigation (EU)

2020

https://techcrunch.com/2020/12/10/france-fines-google-120m-and-amazon-42m-for-dropping-tracking-cookies-without-consent/
Not sure if this is what this is referring to?

Google Ads Anti-Competitive Practices Fine (EU)

2020

Google Android Data Collection Fine (EU) €50 million

2020

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.huntonprivacyblog.com/2020/06/23/french-highest-administrative-court-upholds-50-million-euro-fine-against-google-for-alleged-gdpr-violations/%23:~:text%3DOn%2520June%252019%252C%25202020%252C%2520France%27s,1)%2520provide%2520notice%2520in%2520an&ved=2ahUKEwjTy-e1neaFAxW5k4kEHbbuCrUQFnoECA4QAw&usg=AOvVaw2dkaQmS6hGCi1FJja0Z0jb

Amazon Privacy Violations Fine (US) €35 million

2020

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/10/google-and-amazon-fined-for-cookies-breach-by-french-privacy-regulator.html

Amazon AWS Data Breach Fine (US) $886 million

2021

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-58024116#

Apple Siri Privacy Fine (US)

2021

unsure... looks like there was a lawsuit but can't find a fine in 2021?

Facebook Data Privacy Violations Fine (EU) €225 millon

2021

not sure if this is what you mean? https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebooks-whatsapp-fined-around-270-million-for-eu-privacy-violations-11630576800#

Microsoft Windows 10 Data Tracking Fine (EU)

2021

Ireland Fines Meta for WhatsApp GDPR Violation €225m

September 2021

WhatsApp, owned by Meta Platforms Inc. (formerly Facebook), was fined by Ireland's Data Protection Commission €225 in 2021 for failing to comply with GDPR transparency obligations, underscoring the importance of data protection and privacy regulations in the digital landscape.

Facebook Oculus Privacy Violation Fine (US)

2022

Facebook Targeted Advertisements Fine (US) $115,054

2022

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/21/doj-settles-with-facebook-over-allegedly-discriminatory-housing-ads.html

Google Android Monopoly Fine (US) $391.5 million

2022

https://proton.me/blog/big-tech-three-billion-fines

Amazon Alexa Recording Privacy Fine (EU)

2022

Instagram for Data Retention Violation Fine (EU) €405 million

2022

not sure if this is what this is referring to-- https://www.edpb.europa.eu/news/news/2022/record-fine-instagram-following-edpb-intervention_en

EU Fines Twitter for Data Misuse (EU)

2022

found a US fine but no EU fine https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/may/25/twitter-user-data-advertising-settlement

Google fined for violating competition laws €4.1B (EU)

2022

https://www.reuters.com/technology/eu-courts-wed-ruling-record-44-bln-google-fine-may-set-precedent-2022-09-14/#:~:text=LUXEMBOURG%2C%20Sept%2014%20(Reuters),pressure%20on%20the%20U.S.%20giant.

Microsoft Data Protection Violations Fine (EU)

2022

Apple App Tracking Transparency Violation Fine (EU) €8 million

2023

https://www.politico.eu/article/apple-fined-e8-million-in-privacy-case/

EU Fines TikTok for Child Data Protection Violation (EU) €345 million

2023

https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexandralevine/2023/09/14/tiktok-fine-europe-children-data-privacy-security/?sh=560e010c6c90

EU fines Apple for "abusive App store rules for music streaming providers." Є2B

March 2024

https://www.npr.org/2024/03/04/1235887120/apple-music-spotify-fine-european-union#:~:text=Hourly%20News-,The%20EU%20fines%20Apple%20nearly%20%242%20billion%20for%20hindering%20music,App%20Store%2C%20the%20EU%20said.

Laws and Guidelines

DOJ-FTC 1982 Merger Guidelines

1982

https://www.justice.gov/archives/atr/1982-merger-guidelines

DOJ-FTC 1992 Merger Guidelines

1992

https://www.justice.gov/archives/atr/1992-merger-guidelines

EU Data Protection Directive adopted (EU)

1995

https://www.digitalguardian.com/blog/what-data-protection-directive-predecessor-gdpr

DOJ-FTC 1997 Merger Guidelines

1997

https://www.justice.gov/archives/atr/1997-merger-guidelines

EU e-Commerce Directive implementation (EU)

2000

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX%3A32000L0031

EU Cookie Directive implemented (EU)

2002

https://www.cookiebot.com/en/cookie-law/#:~:text=The%20EU%20cookie%20law%20(ePrivacy%20Directive)%20came%20into%20effect%20in,use%20of%20cookies%20on%20websites.

DOJ-FTC 2010 Horizontal Merger Guidelines

2010

https://www.justice.gov/atr/horizontal-merger-guidelines-08192010#10

EU Audiovisual Media Services Directive adopted (EU)

2010

https://www.dentons.com/en/insights/articles/2018/october/12/changes-to-the-audiovisual-media-services-directive-approved-by-the-european-parliament

European Commission adopts Digital Single Market Strategy (EU)

2015

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_15_4919

Germany passes Network Enforcement Act

2017

This law requires social media platforms to remove illegal content within 24 hours of being notified or face substantial fines.
https://cjil.uchicago.edu/print-archive/enforcement-through-network-network-enforcement-act-and-article-10-european

EU Audiovisual Media Services Directive revised (EU)

2018

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2018/1808/oj

EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) enforcement begins (EU)

2018

https://gdpr.eu/what-is-gdpr/#:~:text=The%20regulation%20was%20put%20into,tens%20of%20millions%20of%20euros.

EU Copyright Directive adopted (EU)

2019

https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/18927#

France passes Digital Services Tax targeting tech giants (EU)

July 11, 2019

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-48947922#

France passes Avia Law requiring hateful content takedown

2020

Avia Law - France, 2020 (partially censored): This law required online platforms to remove hateful content within 24 hours, but key provisions were later struck down by the French Constitutional Council. https://www.politico.eu/article/france-gives-final-green-light-to-law-cracking-down-on-hate-speech-online/