Federal judge rules Google violated antitrust laws, opening door to major changes

(MENAFN) A federal judge in the United States has ruled that Google violated antitrust law by spending billions of dollars to create and maintain an illegal monopoly by positioning itself as the default search engine worldwide. The ruling marks a significant legal victory for U.S. antitrust regulators, who have been actively challenging the dominance of big tech companies. The decision sets the stage for an upcoming trial focused on potential remedies that could include a breakup of Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc. The move could reshape the online advertising market, where Google has long dominated.

The court ruling, by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, calls Google a monopoly that manipulated the market to maintain its dominant position. Google controls about 90 percent of the online search market and 95 percent of the smartphone market. In 2023, Google’s advertising revenues accounted for 77 percent of Alphabet’s total sales. Despite the ruling, Google plans to appeal, arguing that the decision does not recognize the quality of its search services and limits its ability to easily provide its search engine.

Attorney General Merrick Garland hailed the ruling as a “historic victory for the American people,” emphasizing that no company is above the law. White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre also celebrated the decision as a victory for competitors, saying Americans deserve a free and open internet. The case, brought under former President Donald Trump, underscored the intense scrutiny and legal battles that big tech companies face. In 2021 alone, Google spent $26.3 billion to ensure it is the default search engine across devices and browsers, further illustrating the scale of its market influence.

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