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Steve Mnuchin wants Justice Department to scrutinize Big Tech

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who wants the Justice Department to take a tougher look at major technology companies.
Treasury Steven Mnuchin. Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said Monday that the Justice Department should look at the increasing dominance of major tech companies.

Why it matters: Though the Justice Department’s investigations are supposed to be separate from the administration’s political priorities — and aren‘t an area Mnuchin has a say over — it comes as more say antitrust action is needed to tackle big tech companies like Google, Facebook and Amazon.

What he said: "These are issues that the Justice Department needs to look at seriously — not for any one company — but obviously as these technology companies have a greater and greater impact on the economy, I think that you have to look at the power they have," Mnuchin said on CNBC following a 60 Minutes segment Sunday night on concerns about Google’s power.

Antitrust law