A US court ruled that Google violated the country’s antitrust laws with its search business by illegally holding a monopoly over search and text advertising
A US court ruled that Google violated the United States’ antitrust laws with its search business.(Photo: Reuters)
A federal judge ruled on Monday that Google violated the United States’ antitrust laws with its search business, delivering a significant blow to the tech giant that could transform how Americans access online information and disrupt its decades-long dominance. The court ruled that the search engine has illegally held a monopoly over search and text advertising.
This ruling from the US District Court for the District of Columbia marks a major criticism of Google’s primary business model. The company has invested billions in exclusive contracts to solidify its position as the default search engine on smartphones and web browsers worldwide. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp
Over a 10-week trial, testimonies from top executives at Google, Microsoft, and Apple were presented. Judge Amit Mehta, in his comprehensive 277-page decision, stated, “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.”
Judge Mehta highlighted that being the default search engine is “extremely valuable real estate” for Google. To maintain this position, Google has spent billions annually to ensure its search engine remains the default on new cell phones and tech gadgets.
