In a landmark ruling, a federal U.S. judge declared that Google has maintained an illegal monopoly in search and text advertising markets. The case, filed by the government in 2020, accused Google of erecting barriers to entry and perpetuating its control over the search market. This decision represents a significant anti-monopoly outcome against a tech giant in decades.
Judge Amit Mehta, from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, stated, “Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly.” The Department of Justice and a coalition of attorneys general led the antitrust charge against Google.
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Attorney General Merrick Garland hailed the ruling as a “historic win for the American people,” emphasizing that no company is above the law. Despite the verdict, Google plans to appeal, highlighting its commitment to providing quality products.
While Alphabet shares dipped after the ruling, the case sheds light on the ongoing scrutiny of tech monopolies and their impact on market competition.