House Wants Four 'Big Tech' CEOs to Testify in Competition Probe Apple, Amazon, Alphabet and Facebook have been pushed to respond.

By Jon Fingas Edited by Jessica Thomas

This story originally appeared on Engadget

Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via engadget

A House investigation into tech competition may have testimony from some of the biggest names in the industry — if they agree, at least. Axios understands the Judiciary Committee has asked Apple, Alphabet, Amazon and Facebook to say if their CEOs will testify for the antitrust probe in July. The companies reportedly have until June 14th to answer. However, they might not have a choice regardless of their responses — the letters hint at possible subpoenas for testimony and relevant documents if the CEOs don't volunteer.

In statement, committee chair David Cicilline said the documents (which include responses to other probes) were "essential" to the investigation and that requests like this were part of the "appropriate process" to obtain the files.

While major tech CEOs have testified for Congress in the past, their appearances aren't guaranteed. Companies have sometimes chosen to send other executives instead, and Amazon has so far declined to commit to testimony from Jeff Bezos in another investigation. That's not including concerns about the ongoing pandemic, either. If they do agree, though, July could prove a pivotal month as politicians seek to keep tech giants in check.

Jon Fingas is an associate editor at Engadget.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business News

'We're Not Allowed to Own Bitcoin': Crypto Price Drops After U.S. Federal Reserve Head Makes Surprising Statement

Fed Chair Jerome Powell's comments on Bitcoin and rate cuts have rattled cryptocurrency investors.

Making a Change

Expand Your Global Reach with Access to More Than 150 Languages for Life

Unlock global markets with this language-learning platform.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Business Ideas

Is Your Business Healthy? Why Every Entrepreneur Needs To Do These 3 Checkups Every Year

You can't plan for the new year until you complete these checkups.

Franchise

KFC Is Launching a Chicken Tenders-Focused Concept Called Saucy — Here's When and Where It Opens

The chicken chain is making a strategic pivot towards the growing demand for customizable, sauce-heavy meals.

Business News

A Government Shutdown Could Cost the U.S. Economy $6 Billion a Week, According to EY's Chief Economist

Experts from EY tell Entrepreneur that a government shutdown could leave "a visible mark" on the economy.