As regulatory scrutiny intensifies across industries, several major corporations faced significant legal challenges related to anti-competitive behavior in October 2025. Using SESAMm's AI-powered controversy data, we analyzed corporate activity to identify the companies most involved in anti-competitive practices during the month. The results reveal a pattern of regulatory action spanning tech giants, financial services, and food production sectors.
Alphabet continues to face unprecedented legal challenges across multiple jurisdictions. The company is facing a substantial $8.3 billion lawsuit from Klarna, alleging anti-competitive practices in the Android market. The situation intensified when the U.S. Supreme Court denied Google's request to delay mandated changes that would open Google Play to rival app stores.
Adding to these concerns, a federal judge is now examining whether Google can legally bundle its Gemini AI app with other services, a move that could significantly extend its market power into emerging AI markets. Perhaps most significantly, the Court of Justice of the European Union upheld a €2.4 billion fine against Google for self-preferencing in Google Shopping, reinforcing the legal framework against such anti-competitive behaviors and establishing stronger regulatory precedent for digital platforms.
Visa continues to face legal and regulatory pressures across multiple jurisdictions. In the United States, the long-running merchant fee antitrust litigation (MDL 1720) remains active, with ongoing appeals and challenges to proposed settlements. Several merchant groups that opted out of earlier agreements have been permitted by the courts to continue pursuing their claims, extending Visa’s legal exposure.
The company's $5.3 billion acquisition of Plaid has drawn intense scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Justice, reflecting growing concern about consolidation in the fintech sector. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal delivered a landmark ruling against both Visa and Mastercard, determining that their Multilateral Interchange Fees violate competition laws; a significant victory for European merchants and a potential precedent for future cases.
The meat processing industry's legal troubles continued in October, with Tyson Foods at the center of multiple settlements. The company, along with Cargill, agreed to settle a beef price-fixing lawsuit for $55 million and $32.5 million, respectively. These settlements contribute to a broader $208 million resolution in related consumer cases, although litigation against JBS and National Beef continues.
Beyond beef, Tyson reached an even larger $85 million settlement in a separate antitrust case concerning pork price inflation, the largest settlement to date in ongoing litigation against major U.S. meat producers.
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