EU move vs Amazon is latest in string of tech crackdowns

LONDON — The European Union’s move to charge Amazon over alleged antitrust behavior is the bloc’s latest crackdown on U.S. tech giants. ___ APPLE June 2020: EU Commission opens two investigations into Apple’s mobile app store and payment platform over concerns its practices distort competition by limiting choice and innovation and keeping prices high. ___ GOOGLE 2020: The EU commission opens in-depth investigation into Google’s plan to buy fitness tracking device maker Fitbit for $2.1 billion, over concerns the deal would entrench its position in the online ad market by expanding the amount of data it can access. 2018: EU Commission fines Google 4.34 billion euros for forcing smartphone makers that use its Android operating system to install Google search and browser apps. 2017: EU commission fines Google 2.42 billion euros for unfairly favoring its own online shopping recommendations in its search results and demanded it changes the way it provides search results in Europe.