Gaetz nomination signals steeper antitrust challenges for Big Tech

The news: President-elect Donald Trump nominated congressman Matt Gaetz of Florida to take over for Merrick Garland as attorney general and lead the Department of Justice (DOJ). 

If his appointment is confirmed by the Senate, Gaetz could intensify efforts on Big Tech regulation and antitrust enforcement, potentially altering the business landscape for years.

Why it’s worth watching: Gaetz has a history of going after Big Tech and is a vocal supporter of antitrust action, ostensibly to prevent powerful companies from abusing their positions and restricting competition.

• The Republican congressman has taken social media firms to task, accusing them of censoring conservatives, particularly when Trump was banned from social media platforms after the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, per Business Insider.  
• Gaetz has consistently rallied for robust antitrust action. This alignment with current Federal Trade Commission (FTC) efforts signals that Big Tech could face continuing regulatory oversight, even if FTC Chair Lina Khan departs.
• Gaetz, who sat on the House Judiciary antitrust committee, cross-examined Facebook, Apple, Amazon, and Google during a yearlong investigation into the power and influence of Big Tech in 2020.

Ethical complications: Some Republican senators are pushing back on Gaetz’s nomination. They note that, in addition to a House Ethics Committee investigation, Gaetz was also investigated by the DOJ in 2023, although he wasn’t charged in that sex-trafficking probe, per Fox News. 

Our take: Should he be the next AG, Gaetz will likely accelerate any pending Big Tech antitrust cases to prove his office’s decisiveness and set the tone for the DOJ.

The biggest cases on the docket include an antitrust bid to split up Google, and another regarding Apple’s App Store dominance. However, going after the biggest targets risks longer, drawn-out cases and intensified Big Tech lobbying efforts to delay or challenge decisions.