Google found guilty of maintaining online search monopoly in landmark ruling

A US judge ruled that Google engaged in monopolistic behaviour to eliminate competition and maintain its dominance of internet search and search advertising, according to BBC.

This verdict is a big blow for Google‘s parent company Alphabet, and qualitatively, could change the operational strategies of leading tech firms.

Google faced a lawsuit from the US Department of Justice in 2020 after it accused the company of controlling about 90% of the market share for online search. This case is not isolated but belongs to a series of actions by the US antitrust authorities to strengthen competition in the IT segment.

US District Judge Amit Mehta said that Google has spent billions of US Dollars to make sure that it continues being set as the default search bar on smart devices and browsers. "Google is a monopolist, and it has behaved like one to protect its dominance," the judge titled his 277-page decision. “Simply put, Google’s dominant position has made it invulnerable to almost all restraints,” he added. Reuters reported that Alphabet is seeking a review of the decision.

US Attorney General Merrick Garland described the ruling as a ‘historic win for the American people’ affirming that no company – however big – is beyond the law.

Other big tech firms have also faced several suits from the federal antitrust authorities with Meta Platforms, the owner of Facebook and Amazon amongst them. com, and Apple, claiming that the two firms run unlawful monopolies.

This ruling comes after the prosecution claimed, in the 10-week trial in Washington DC, that Google pays billions of dollars to have its search engine installed as a default on Apple, Samsung, Mozilla, and other devices.

The US averred that Google spends more than $10 million annually to enjoy this aspect, locking users’ data to cement their hold in the market.