House Democrats have announced a sweeping investigation into companies like Google, Facebook, Amazon, and others to decide whether they have become so large and powerful that they are stifling innovation and competition in the industry.

The probe was announced on Monday by representative David Cicilline, and comes as politicians on both sides of the aisle have expressed concerns that the tech industry has been allowed to run rampant without regulations for too long.

Mr Cicilline told reporters on Monday that the probe will not target specific companies, and will instead focus on the belief that the "Internet is broken" as a result that massive technology companies have managed to effectively control large swaths of the online economy.

While cautioning that the investigation is a broad look, he did mention specific companies that have come to be household names across the western world.

Mr Cicilline pointed, for instance, to questionable practices by companies like Google, which is currently being reviewed in Europe for prioritising its own services in searches over its competition. Facebook was also mentioned for its practice of buying up competition or simply adopting very similar features to ensure dominance in the social media world. Mr Cicilline said that Amazon and Apple could also be of interest to the probe.

Technology comes to Bhutan Show all 19 1 /19 Technology comes to Bhutan Technology comes to Bhutan A youth drinks whiskey at a bar in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Drayang dancer Lhaden, 38, performs in a bar in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan, December 16, 2017. Lhaden, a divorced mother-of-two, dances until midnight, and like thousands of her compatriots, is struggling to make ends meet. "I'm not happy or sad about things, I have no other choice," she said. Lhaden, who earns $125 a month, is counting the pennies. "I live in such a small flat so I can afford food and clothes." Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Drayang dancers Ugyen Tshomo, 29, and Lhaden (R), 38, relax before going to work in a bar in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan December 16, 2017. Lhaden, a divorced mother-of-two, dances until midnight, and like thousands of her compatriots, is struggling to make ends meet. "I'm not happy or sad about things, I have no other choice," she said. Lhaden, who earns $125 a month, is counting the pennies. "I live in such a small flat so I can afford food and clothes." Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Men play snooker and gamble in a snooker hall in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Youths gather in an internet gaming centre in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Drayang dancer Lhaden, 38, prepares to leave her house and go to work in a bar in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan, December 16, 2017. Lhaden, a divorced mother-of-two, dances until midnight, and like thousands of her compatriots, is struggling to make ends meet. "I'm not happy or sad about things, I have no other choice," she said. Lhaden, who earns $125 a month, is counting the pennies. "I live in such a small flat so I can afford food and clothes." Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Smoke billows from machinery at a road construction site near the town of Punakha, Bhutan Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Drayang dancer Lhaden, 38, checks her mobile phone as she rests at home in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan, December 16, 2017. Lhaden, a divorced mother-of-two, dances until midnight, and like thousands of her compatriots, is struggling to make ends meet. "I'm not happy or sad about things, I have no other choice," she said. Lhaden, who earns $125 a month, is counting the pennies. "I live in such a small flat so I can afford food and clothes." Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Youths sit outside a restaurant in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan, Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Youths play football near a highway in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan, Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan A tourist bus makes its way along the Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan, December 14, 2017. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton SEARCH "BHUTAN" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Women share a joke in a Karaoke bar in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan, December 16, 2017. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton SEARCH "BHUTAN" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan A man walks past a housing construction site in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan, December 12, 2017. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton SEARCH "BHUTAN" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Youths gather in an internet gaming centre in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan, December 11, 2017. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton SEARCH "BHUTAN" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Buddhist monks play football in the Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Sonam Tshering, 13, feeds cattle in the Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan, December 14, 2017. "I would love to become a science teacher and watch Cristiano Ronaldo play for Real Madrid," said Sonam. Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Houses stand in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan An electric heater and television sit in the corner of a traditional farmhouse in Punakha, Bhutan, December 13, 2017. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton SEARCH "BHUTAN" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Zeko, 73, poses for a portrait at his home in Punakha, Bhutan, December 13, 2017. "I'm happy to have a mobile phone so I can talk to my relatives and children any time I want," Zeko said. Reuters

"In a lot of ways, there was a reluctance in the early days of the Internet to interfere," Mr Cicilline, a Democrat, said during his remarks to reporters. "It was creating so much value in the lives of people that [some felt] you should get out of the way and allow it to flourish."

He continued: "Over time, people have recognised there are some real dangers here."

The investigation will include hearings, and Democrats have said they would consider subpoenas for documents if tech companies and others do not voluntarily comply with requests. Leaders of top companies in Silicon Valley may be asked to testify publicly, they say.

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The issue appears to be one of rare bipartisan consensus in Washington, where Donald Trump's administration recently signalled that it wants to look at Silicon Valley and the power of tech giants in the industry. The Trump administration has taken steps to analyse anti-trust enforcement of Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Apple, leading the way for future potential probes.