How Google, Apple, LinkedIn, and Yahoo responded to China crackdowns, and what it means for others

2021 will be remembered as the year China cracked down on Big Tech

  • The momentum began late last year when the Chinese government passed new antitrust guidelines curbing the growth of national giants Alibaba, Ant Group, and Tencent following years of a more laissez faire approach. 
  • China then intervened to block Ant’s potential record-breaking $34 billion IPO.
  • In April 2021, it fined Alibaba $2.8 billion for alleged anticompetitive practices. 
  • In the same month, officials issued a warning to 34 of China’s largest internet companies, demanding they cease monopolist practices or face a similar fate to Alibaba.