Amazon is cast as unlikely victim in US states’ suit against Google

Amazon is mentioned by name more than two dozen times in the complaint, in what amounts to an argument that even a rich, powerful fellow tech giant couldn’t overcome Google’s grip on smartphone operating systems. — Reuters

In the latest monopoly lawsuit against Google, US enforcers are relying on an odd victim to make their case: Amazon, one of the few companies on the planet bigger than Google.

On Wednesday, three dozen states sued Alphabet Inc’s Google, adding to a lengthy list of antitrust charges against the company. This particular case accuses Google of using illegal tactics to force app makers to use its Google Play store, which charges a commission for digital transactions. Central to the lawsuit is the allegation that Google intentionally boxed out competing app stores on Android phones.