The US Department of Justice has announced a competition investigation into Big Tech firms.

A statement released by the department said it would look into “whether and how market-leading online platforms have achieved market power and are engaging in practices that have reduced competition, stifled innovation, or otherwise harmed consumers”.

The probe is further evidence of the US government’s hardening attitudes to the dominance of a handful of powerful tech companies.

The statement did not name any companies which will fall within the scope of the probe, but said: “The review will consider the widespread concerns that consumers, businesses and entrepreneurs have expressed about search, social media, and some retail services online.”

Shares in Facebook, Google owner Alphabet, Amazon and Apple fell slightly following the announcement.

Assistant attorney general Makan Delrahim, of the antitrust division, said: “Without the discipline of meaningful market-based competition, digital platforms may act in ways that are not responsive to consumer demands.”

The statement explained: “The goal of the review is to assess the competitive conditions in the online marketplace in an objective and fair-minded manner and to ensure Americans have access to free markets in which companies compete on the merits to provide services that users want.

“If violations of law are identified, the department will proceed appropriately to seek redress.”

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