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In a decision that could reshape the tech industry, a U.S. judge has ruled that Google has maintained an illegal monopoly over online search.
The ruling, issued on August 5, by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, concluded that Google engaged in unlawful practices to suppress competition and uphold its dominance in the online search and advertising markets.
The lawsuit, initiated by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2020, accused Google of spending billions of dollars annually to ensure its search engine remained the default choice on various smartphones and web browsers.
An excerpt from the judge’s ruling reads: “After having carefully considered and weighed the witness testimony and evidence, the court reaches the following conclusion: Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly. It has violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act.”
During the 10-week trial in Washington, D.C., prosecutors argued that Google’s expenditures, which reportedly exceed $10 billion annually, allowed it to maintain its monopoly by securing default status on devices from companies like Samsung, Apple and Mozilla. This strategy provided Google with continuous access to user data, reinforcing its market dominance.
Google’s Defense
In defense, Google’s Global Affairs President Kent Walker took to X to share Google’s position on the ruling. Walker argued that the company’s success was due to the superior quality of its search engine which has “earned Google the trust of hundreds of millions of daily users.”
Walker also stated in his tweet that Google plans to appeal the ruling but didn’t provide further details on when.
More Antitrust Cases Against Big Tech
The Google monopoly ruling is just one of several antitrust cases now confronting Big Tech. Last year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and 17 state attorneys general filed a lawsuit against Amazon, alleging it suppressed competition on pricing and product selection, and gave preferential treatment to sellers using Amazon’s shipping services.
In March, the Justice Department and 16 states sued Apple, accusing it of hindering competition in the smartphone market by blocking competitors from reaching Apple customers. This lawsuit, following a five-year investigation, argued that Apple leveraged its market dominance to prevent customers from switching to non-Apple products.
This Google antitrust ruling has drawn widespread attention as it marks a major test of whether US antitrust laws can effectively address the power of Big Tech companies. If Google eventually appeals, the outcome could have far-reaching implications for other tech giants facing similar antitrust scrutiny.
