TEXAS, 17 December, 2020 (TON): The American Economic Liberties Project (AELP) an organization that advocates for government action against business concentration has welcomed the states’ sue action against Google anti-competitive’ online ad sales.  AELP Executive director said that Google’s current business model is a threat to democracy and the free press.

Ten states on Wednesday brought a lawsuit against Google, accusing the search giant of “anti-competitive conduct” in the online advertising industry. They also claim a deal to manipulate sales with rival Facebook. Along with Texas other Republican attorneys general from Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, South Dakota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Indiana and Utah has join them.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton alleges that Google is using its “monopolistic power” to control pricing of online advertisements, fixing the market in its favor and eliminating competition.

While in reply Google called Paxton’s claims “meritless” and said the price of online advertising has fallen over the last decade. We will strongly defend ourselves from (Paxton’s) baseless claims in court.

Paxton led a bipartisan coalition of 50 U.S. states and territories, formed in 2019. The coalition was investigating Google’s business practices, potential monopolistic behavior and citing .

The suit alleges “Google has an appetite for total dominance, and its latest ambition is to transform the free and open architecture of the internet”.

Google officials say the company shares the majority of its “ad tech” revenue with publishers, such as newspaper websites. They rejected the assertion that Google is dominant, saying that market dominance suggests abuse, which is foreign to the company.