The stock price of Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) declined due to concerns that U.S. regulators are likely to open antitrust investigations into the social media company and other tech giants.
FB shares were down 7.51 percent to $164.15 a piece on Monday, reducing the social media giant’s market capitalization by $38 billion to $468.5 billion.
FTC reportedly to oversee any antitrust probe into Facebook
On Monday, the Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reached an agreement on a strategy to handle anti-competitive concerns involving technology companies.
The Department and the Commission share authority when it comes to enforcing the antitrust law.
According to the media outlet, the DOJ and the FTC agreed to divide regulatory oversight of two of the Big Four tech companies. Under the agreement, the FTC will supervise any antitrust investigation into Facebook while the DOJ on Google.
FTC is currently examining the social media giant’s privacy practices
Currently, the FTC is investigating Facebook’s privacy practices in connection with Cambridge Analytica data scandal last year. The bankrupt political consulting firm gained access and possibly misused the personal information of millions of users during the U.S. presidential election in 2016.
