FTC Staff was Close to Filing Antitrust Lawsuit Against Google

According to The Volokh Conspiracy, the FTC decided not to sue Google for alleged anti-trust violations in 2012 based on documents that were inadvertently disclosed by the FTC as part of an open-record request.



According to the report, Google threatened websites with removal from its search engine if they did not let Google use their content.  A consumer advocacy group is calling on the FTC to reopen its investigation into Google.



Truth on the Market explains that complainants allege Google's is anticompetitive because it forecloses alternate search platforms.  The site explains that the FTC staff did not exactly recommend a case as numerous media outlets led readers to believe.  It would be more accurate if the headlines read: "FTC staff recommends no case against Google, except on a couple of minor issues we will be immediately settled.