Today marks the commencement of a groundbreaking antitrust lawsuit against Google, as the California-based tech giant faces allegations of employing illicit tactics to maintain its monopoly dominance. This historic legal battle, pitting federal government lawyers against Google, unfolds just a week after Google celebrated its 25th birthday and is poised to be the most significant antitrust case in nearly two decades. The outcome of this lawsuit carries substantial implications for the broader technology industry.
The last antitrust lawsuit of such magnitude dates back to 1998 when Microsoft faced similar legal scrutiny. Ironically, Google, which once accused Microsoft of anti-competitive practices, now finds itself on the receiving end of these allegations, as asserted by the US Department of Justice in its lawsuit.
The lawsuit contends that Google safeguards its dominant position by channeling billions of dollars annually to secure its role as the default search engine on popular platforms like the iPhone and web browsers such as Apple’s Safari and Mozilla’s Firefox. Additionally, Google is accused of tilting the market in its favor by stipulating that its search engine be bundled with its Android operating system for smartphones, a condition device manufacturers must meet to gain full access to the Android app store.
Google vehemently denies any wrongdoing, insisting that despite commanding approximately 90% of the internet search market, it faces formidable competition from various quarters. Google argues that its competitors encompass search engines like Microsoft’s Bing and online platforms like Amazon and Yelp, where users can seek advice on purchasing decisions or destination choices.
Notably, top executives from Google, as well as its parent company Alphabet Inc., are slated to testify during the court proceedings. Among the anticipated witnesses is Alphabet’s CEO, Sundar Pichai. Furthermore, court documents suggest that Eddy Cue, a high-ranking executive at Apple, may also be called as a witness.
It’s important to note that this lawsuit was initially initiated during the tenure of former President Donald Trump’s justice department, and the Biden administration has chosen to proceed with it. The presiding judge, US District Judge Amit Mehta, is not expected to render a verdict until early next year. If the court finds Google in violation of antitrust laws, a subsequent trial will determine the necessary measures to rein in one of the most influential companies in the tech world.
