Apple’s party clouded by possible US regulator probe

Just minutes into Apple’s big annual bash this week to tout its latest wares, the Trump administration stole the show from Tim Cook. The company is among four Silicon Valley titans facing possible US competition probes. The US justice department is set to investigate Google and will also oversee scrutiny of Apple.

The Federal Trade Commission will take responsibility for probes of Amazon and Facebook. Building a competition case, if one ever materialises, is a long process, but assigning official oversight is a major step that has already spurred an investigation from Congress.