MADISON, WI (WSAU) — Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul has joined a bipartisan alliance of 48 Attorneys General in a lawsuit against social media giant Facebook, claiming the website is depressing its competition to maintain a monopoly in the social media universe.
“Facebook’s market power and tactics have meant less privacy and less choice for consumers, as well as less tech innovation. This bipartisan group is taking action to stop Facebook from continuing to interfere with competition,” said Attorney General Kaul in a news release.
The group cites Facebook’s purchase of rival social media applications like Instagram (used to share photos and videos) and WhatsApp (used to send text messages to individuals and groups) as examples of the company eliminating its competition.
The group is asking a judge to halt any further acquisitions by Facebook valued at $10 million or more without approval by a New York judge along with possible divesting of some of the company’s acquired companies.
Other Attornies General that have signed on to the suit include those in Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Iowa, North Dakota, and Nebraska.
