From Investing.com:

Regulators in the U.S. and EU are cracking down on Big Tech giants like Apple and Google for alleged anti-competitive practices, potentially leading to historic break-up orders. Apple faces a lawsuit in the U.S. for monopolizing the smartphone market, while Google is accused by the EU of building a monopoly around its adtech business.

With Apple valued at $2.7 trillion and Google’s parent company Alphabet under scrutiny, the possibility of break-up orders is looming in response to concerns over unfair competition practices. Regulators are considering drastic measures, such as divestitures, to ensure fair market competition and prevent conflicts of interest within the tech industry.

EU lawmakers are pushing for bold actions against Big Tech, especially in light of potential violations of the Digital Markets Act. Break-up orders may be on the table for Apple, Meta Platforms, and Alphabet if repeated breaches occur. The case against Apple draws from previous antitrust battles, including the famous case against Microsoft in 1998.

Legal experts are cautious about the effectiveness of break-up orders, suggesting that fines may be a more likely outcome. Structural remedies like break-ups would face rigorous legal challenges and could be complicated for highly integrated companies like Apple. While the possibility of break-ups is still uncertain, regulators are exploring various options to address anti-competitive practices in the tech industry.



Read more at Investing.com: Analysis-Google, Apple breakups on the agenda as global regulators target tech By Reuters