A judge in the United States ruled that Google violated antitrust law by creating an illegal monopoly for its search engine, using its dominance to stifle competition and innovation. US District Judge Amit Mehta’s ruling marked a major victory for authorities taking on Big Tech. Google’s 89.2% market share in general search services was cited as evidence of its monopoly. US Attorney General Merrick Garland called the decision a win for the American people, emphasizing that no company is above the law.
Google’s parent company, Alphabet, plans to appeal the ruling, which could potentially lead to a breakup of the tech giant. The case is part of a broader effort to challenge monopolies in Big Tech, including Meta (Facebook and Instagram), Amazon, and Apple. Senator Amy Klobuchar highlighted bipartisan support for antitrust enforcement and described Google as a “rampant monopolist.”
The ruling exposed Google’s tactics of spending billions to secure agreements making its search engine the default option on new devices. The company’s lax approach to improving search quality was criticized for harming users. Despite the ruling, experts believe that the appeal process could take years, delaying any immediate changes for users and advertisers.
The landmark decision against Google highlights growing concerns about the dominance of Big Tech and the need for stronger antitrust enforcement. The case represents a significant challenge to tech companies’ power and influence in the online marketplace.
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