According to the New York Times, multiple sources have told them that the Department of Justice is investigating AT&T, Verizon and the GSM Association (GSMA) where they are looking for evidence that these parties working together attempting to limit eSIM technology.
The technology is supposed to allow customers to switch wireless carriers without having to change out their hardware SIM cards. The allegation against the carrier and GSMA is that they waned the ability to lock devices to their networks even if eSIM technology was being used.
Harold Fled, a VP of them consumer protection group Public Knowledge, said that he was briefed on a meeting last year where AT&T and Verizon discussed pushing for device locking, and Verizon claimed that it needed to protect against theft and fraud.