ISLAMABAD, AUGUST 6: Judge Mehta stated, “Google is a monopolist and has behaved as one to preserve its monopoly.” According to the BBC, a US judge found that Google used monopolistic tactics to crush rivals and preserve its hegemony over online search and search advertising.
This decision is a major setback for Alphabet, the parent company of Google, and it may fundamentally alter the business models of top internet companies.
In 2020, the US Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Google, alleging that the firm held approximately 90% of the market share for online searches. This prosecution is part of a larger campaign by US antitrust regulators to boost competition in the IT industry, rather than being an isolated instance.
According to US District Judge Amit Mehta, Google has invested billions of dollars to ensure that their search bar remains the default option on browsers and smart gadgets. Titled “Google is a monopolist, and it has behaved like one to protect its dominance,” the judge’s 277-page ruling stated. “To put it simply, Google is immune to nearly all forms of limitation due to its dominant position,” he continued. Alphabet is requesting a reconsideration of the ruling, according to Reuters.
The decision, according to US Attorney General Merrick Garland, is a “historic win for the American people,” reaffirming that no business, no matter how large, is above the law.
The federal antitrust authorities have also filed other lawsuits against other large digital companies, alleging that Apple and Meta Platforms—the company that owns Facebook and Amazon, among others—run illegal monopolies.
Following a 10-week trial in Washington, DC, the prosecution argued that Google pays billions of dollars to have its search engine preinstalled on devices made by Apple, Samsung, Mozilla, and other companies. This led to the current verdict.
According to US allegations, Google locks down user data to maintain its market share and pays over $10 million a year to benefit from this feature.
