The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division has been aggressively pursuing civil enforcement actions.  While criminal enforcement of antitrust laws has been depressed, DOJ has found success in pursuing civil and merger enforcement.  DOJ recently won a significant victory against Google for its monopolization of the search market.

DOJ has now turned its attention outside of technology markets by filing suit against Visa for its dominance of the debit card transaction market.  DOJ charged Visa with monopolization and other unlawful conduct in debit network markets in violation of Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act. DOJ filed the comprehensive case in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

DOJ’s complaint alleges that Visa has monopoly power over debit network markets by leveraging its dominant position to thwart competition and prevent others from developing new and innovative market alternatives.

Listen to the Episode Here.