Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has joined with 49 other attorneys general to announce a multi-state investigation of Google’s business practices to determine if it violates state and federal antitrust laws.
The investigation will center on Google’s online advertising markets and search traffic that may have led to anti-competitive behavior that harms consumers.
In 2018, Google reported $136.2 billion in revenue in which 85 percent came from advertising.
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Investigators have submitted interrogatories, requested internal Google documents and will be deposing Google employees and former employees.
While the preliminary focus is on the advertising marketplace, the states may expand their scope as more facts become known.