A couple of weeks ago, we posted an article titled – DOJ Throws Weight Behind Antitrust Lawsuit vs. Trusted News Initiative – which covered the DOJ’s intent to file a statement of interest in an antitrust lawsuit against the media’s self-appointed “disinformation” police. Well, they filed it this past week. Check it out.
The statement of interest supports us (Ty & Charlene Bollinger) and a coalition of independent journalists in our antitrust lawsuit against major media and tech corporations. The case targets the Trusted News Initiative (TNI), an alliance including Reuters, the BBC, the Associated Press, the Washington Post, and Big Tech platforms, accusing them of colluding to suppress competing voices under the guise of combating “misinformation.”
The DOJ’s Stance: Antitrust Laws Protect Viewpoint Diversity
On July 11, the DOJ submitted a 22-page legal filing arguing that TNI’s actions—coordinating with tech companies to censor rival outlets—constitute anticompetitive behavior under the Sherman Antitrust Act. The department emphasized that competition in news isn’t just about economics—it’s about safeguarding the marketplace of ideas.
“Americans depend on viewpoint competition to prevent the abuse of market power and ensure the free flow of information,” the DOJ stated, making clear that antitrust laws apply even when suppression is framed as content moderation.
Abigail Slater of the DOJ’s Antitrust Division reinforced this, stating:
“When companies abuse their market power to block out and deplatform independent voices and protect legacy media, they harm competition … This Antitrust Division will always defend the principle that the antitrust laws protect free markets, including the marketplace of ideas.”
The Lawsuit’s Core Allegations: A Coordinated Blacklist
The lawsuit, originally filed in 2023, claims TNI functioned as a de facto cartel, with members agreeing in 2020 to suppress COVID-related reporting that challenged mainstream narratives. Plaintiffs (including us) allege they were systematically deplatformed, shadow-banned, and/or financially strangled through algorithmic suppression. The plaintiffs are requesting a jury trial and treble damages from reduced visibility and advertising revenue.
TNI’s partners—which include Google, Meta, Microsoft, and major news agencies—publicly framed their efforts as combating “harmful disinformation.” But internal discussions reportedly revealed a different motive: eliminating competition from independent outlets.
Why This Case Matters
The DOJ’s intervention signals that the government views media monopolization as a serious antitrust issue, not just a free-speech debate. If successful, the case could set a precedent limiting how far dominant players can go in policing online discourse, especially when their actions stifle competitors.
For now, the message is clear: Colluding to control the news isn’t just unethical—it may also be illegal. And the DOJ appears ready to enforce that principle.
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Author: Ty & Charlene Bollinger
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