Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Fitch Goes to Facebook Jail

 Attorney General Lynn Fitch's fight against Facebook went down in flames yesterday. The Wall Street Journal reported: 

A federal judge dismissed antitrust lawsuits against Facebook Inc. filed by the U.S. government and most states, a major win for the company before the cases even got off the ground.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg in Washington on Monday granted the social-media giant’s requests to dismiss lawsuits filed by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general in December. The dismissals, which came in a pair of rulings, came before any pretrial proceedings had progressed.

Judge Boasberg said the FTC’s lawsuit was “legally insufficient” because it didn’t plead enough allegations to support monopolization claims against Facebook. The judge, however, said the commission can try again and gave it 30 days to attempt to file an amended lawsuit.  Rest of article.

General Fitch announced her participation in the lawsuit on December 9, 2020: 

Attorney General Fitch today joined a bipartisan coalition of 48 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against Facebook, Inc., alleging that the company has and continues to illegally stifle competition to protect its monopoly power. 

“Facebook spent nearly a decade engaging in practices that diminish competition and exploit user privacy for profit,” said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “I joined this suit to put an end to Facebook’s monopolistic stronghold on the marketplace and protect Mississippians from anticompetitive and deceptive business practices.”  

The lawsuit alleges that over the last decade the social networking giant illegally acquired competitors, such as Instagram or WhatsApp, in a predatory manner and cut services to smaller competitors. These actions deprived users of the benefits of competition and reduced privacy protections and services, while boosting Facebook’s bottom line through increased advertising revenue. Facebook is specifically charged with violating Section 2 of the federal Sherman Act, in addition to multiple violations of Section 7 of the federal Clayton Act.

Since 2004, Facebook has operated as a personal social networking service that facilitates sharing content online without charging users a monetary fee. Instead, it provides these services in exchange for a user’s personal data and then monetizes its business by selling advertising to firms that attach immense value to the user engagement and highly targeted advertising that Facebook can deliver due to the vast trove of data it collects on users, their friends, and their interests. Facebook’s monopoly gives it broad discretion to set the terms for how its users’ private information is collected and used. For instance, when Facebook cuts off integration to third-party developers, users cannot easily move their own information. Because Facebook has successfully maintained a monopoly on the marketplace, the company is now able to make decisions about how to curate content on the platform and use the personal information it collects from users to further its own business interests, even if those choices conflict with the interests and preferences of Facebook users. Additionally, many of the privacy protections and user controls over their own data are now gone. The attorneys general ask the court to halt Facebook’s illegal, anticompetitive conduct and block the company from continuing this behavior in the future. 

Additionally, the states ask the court to restrain Facebook from making further acquisitions valued at or in excess of $10 million without advance notice to the plaintiff states. Finally, they ask the court to provide any additional relief it deems appropriate, including the divestiture or restructuring of illegally acquired companies, or current Facebook assets or business lines. Separately, but in coordination with this multistate coalition, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also today filed a complaint against Facebook in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.  

The lawsuit was spearheaded by the attorneys general for California, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, and the District of Columbia. This executive committee and Mississippi are joined by the attorneys general of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and the territory of Guam.

36 comments:

j'etait Charles Martel said...



Suckerbergj Zucks!!

Great picture of that evil little twit sitting on a 4" cushion while testifying in congress.

Anonymous said...

U.S. District Left leaning Judge James Boasberg in Washington State.
Liberal Democratic Federal Judge
Hope the Congress throws the antitrust book at Suckerburg!

Anonymous said...

Fitch filed a joinder in a lawsuit drafted by some people who can’t get past a 12 b 6 motion…..

Less than 1% of complaints are dismissed at this stage…..

Talk about bad lawyering……

What a complete dumbass

Anonymous said...

For the millionth time, please put Lynn in front of a camera to explain the details of this case. If you can find her

Anonymous said...

When you take credit for smarter AG’s success, you gotta take the licks when the lawsuit you joined without lifting a finger goes down in flames

Anonymous said...

The Attorney Joiner strikes again

Anonymous said...

Another waste of time by our embarrassment of an AG. She seems to pick her cases based only on the optics even when there is zero chance of having any impact on law. She is a waste of our limited resources. Do better Lynn.

Anonymous said...

Maybe Lynn will take up the other huge RepubliQan issue, saving Dr. Seuss.

Or maybe figuring out a way to convince Mississippians to get vaccinated?

Ha. Just kidding. The RepubliQans hate vaccines!

Anonymous said...

Has her China lawsuit got us paid yet? Still waiting on more stimmies but from CHYNAH this time!

Anonymous said...

Boy howdy!

Looks like Lynn’s fan base is awol.

And the China suit is dumb….but even more ignorant was her joining Texas in its effort to block the last election!

What sort of law and order person tries to over throw democracy?

When the shit she keeps dragging around starts to smell really bad….she is gonna get dumped harder than Pence at a Trump rakky.

Anonymous said...

During the admittedly misguided google lawsuit, google was forbidden at the AGO. Reasoning was if you sue a company, you should not be using it while you do do. AG employees had to make due with Bing.

Is Lynn aware of her lawsuit? Her Facebook page is pretty active. It doesn’t have Shad’s level of followers, but it’s still used to announce all her “news”

Anonymous said...

Shad 2024

Anonymous said...

All you basement cheeto eating critics should keep in mind the old saying: Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

This lawsuit was probably all contingency, so this loss probably didn't cost the taxpayers a single dollar.


Put that in yer pipes and smoke it!

Anonymous said...

@6:55 it did cost us! Lynn standing in a room sucking up air doing nothing cost us!

Anonymous said...

Jealousy is a cruel master. Ms Fitch took a swing and missed, but if she had made the connection, the Zuckerberg money would have come in handy. Even better would have been the tears of the arrogant little twit.

Anonymous said...

We don't hate vaccines as much as we hate the people that push them.

Better Than Ever said...

@6:55 Yes it cost the MS citizens. Opportunity cost: While she's wasting time pandering, she's not doing her real job.

Also, and more importantly, it makes MS residents look like fools. We are losing ground by every measure. She's pouring gasoline on the flames that are consuming us.

Anonymous said...

You bunch of women haters totally ignore that she was part of a suit with 47 other state AGs. That's an incredible level of support from Ds and Rs.

Anonymous said...

@9:24 saying their are women haters on here is like calling you a racist! Do it fit?

Anonymous said...

While Puerto Rican statehood or independence might be a point of debate for some, I think Mississippians need to get behind a movement to create a whole different 51st state - Dumbfuckinsasvania. It's probably our only hope to not be last in every good thing and first in every bad thing that matters to anyone of any color, gender, or sexual preference with a lick of common-damned-sense. For example, we are 51st in the list of "states" for vaccinations, thanks to DC being counted separately, but we're in line for first in Delta mutation infections. But thankfully, our AG is an idio...oh, wait...

In any case, I'm sure the Waddling Penguins of good ol' Dumfuckinsasvania State will be able to whip the snot out of the Reb...er, Bears...er, Land Sharks of Ole Miss in the NCAA suspension sweepstakes!

Anonymous said...

No doubt there are lawsuits that should be joined or filed against wrongdoers…. But we have white-collar criminal public officials that are not being investigated. It.is. Not. Happening. If she can’t sell it to a voter she ain’t interested. MS GOP PLEASE run someone against her!!!

Anonymous said...

While she's wasting time pandering, she's not doing her real job.

Objection!


Assumes facts not in evidence. To wit: What evidence is there that she can do her real job?

Anonymous said...

I don’t hate women. I love women. I even married one. Incompetence, that I hate.

Anonymous said...

Never had a chance and the judge saw if was only a political ploy.

I'm going to post this result on her Facebook page, and then tweet her.

Anonymous said...

"I don’t hate women. I love women. *** I even married one. Incompetence, that I hate.***"

I'd make a smart-assed remark about self-loathing, but that might be seen as hateful.

Confused us said...

If some folks could quit worrying about how they looked to the rest of the world, they maybe, could, enjoy life. If some people could get their long, pointed nose out of other people's business, they may find peace of mind. I want to be inclusive, so if some folks could tame their wagging tongue, by the way, a wagging tongue is seldom hooked to horse sense, they may find rest for their weary soul.

Anonymous said...

Worried about how we look? You realize the AG’s COMMS director spends most of her day mastering photoshop. Dewrinkling is quite a task

Anonymous said...

Not a surprise...

How funny y'all are all for business and capitalism until one of the businesses doesn't share your partisan beliefs.

Facebook is a BUSINESS and so are other sites. GET OVER IT!

Anonymous said...

Hehe 9:17 am. So true. I wonder how much money Lynn spent on the ring light she bought to go along with the photoshopping.

But is anyone surprised by the incompetence comments? All the good people and attorneys left/are leaving her office in masses.

Anonymous said...

She’s an attorney, not a general. General modifies attorney, not the other way around.

The proper salutation is Madam Attorney General, in this case.

Anonymous said...

First this and then she lost her rehearing motion at the Court of Appeals in the overturned conviction of Courtney Rainey. God help us to find her replacement!

Better Than Ever said...

@10:47 Sustained! Touché

Peter Principle said...

Must we be reminded daily of this woman's incompetence? In her last three or four state jobs, she could basically 'hide out' in literal obscurity. Now, though, she walks out on stage, tripping, almost daily.

Anonymous said...

Can we just give Audit prosecutorial powers or just roll the two jobs into one so Shad White can just take over her do nothing office?

Anonymous said...

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.sunherald.com/news/politics-government/article252539918.html


🤔

Wow said...

Interesting reading all these comments of purported republicans who are supportive of big business and what they express towards a major corporation who produces hundreds of billions of dollars of economic impact a year and provides millions of jobs to people.


Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.