NH Joins Investigation Of Google's Business Practices

CONCORD, NH — New Hampshire has joined 50 attorneys general throughout the country in an investigation of Google's business practices. The multi-state coalition, led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, has plans to review Google's control of online advertising markets and search traffic that could have led to anticompetitive behavior, according to New Hampshire Attorney General's Office.

As part of the investigation, legal experts from each state will work with federal authorities to study competitive conditions for online services, ensuring that citizens have access to free digital markets, the AG's Office stated.

"Information is a powerful and valuable commodity in today's economy," said New Hampshire Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald. "The way large corporations such as Google are able to control the flow of information raises significant concerns about business practices, reducing consumer choice, and violating users' privacy."

According to the AG's Office, previous investigations of Google have pointed to violations including advertising illegal drugs in the United States and three antitrust actions brought by the European Commission.

"None of these previous investigations, however, fully address the source of Google's sustained market power and the ability to engage in serial and repeated business practices with the intention to protect and maintain that power," according to a statement from the AG's Office.

New Hampshire's joining of the investigation was announced Monday.

"We will go where the facts lead us," said MacDonald on Monday.