Federal Judge Rules Google Has Illegal Monopoly Over Search Engines

A federal judge ruled on Monday that Google has a monopoly over general search engine services, siding with the Justice Department and more than two dozen states that sued the tech company, alleging antitrust violations.

U.S. District of Columbia Judge Amit Mehta said that Google violated antitrust laws through its efforts to be the default search engine on cell phones and web browsers and controlling general search text advertisements. Google has denied the allegations, arguing that it has just engaged in standard business practices. 

“After having carefully considered and weighed the witness testimony and evidence, the court reaches the following conclusion: Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly,” Mehta wrote in a 276-page decision.

“Specifically, the court holds that (1) there are relevant product markets for general search services and general search text ads; (2) Google has monopoly power in those markets; (3) Google’s distribution agreements are exclusive and have anticompetitive effects; and (4) Google has not offered valid procompetitive justifications for those agreements,” Mehta wrote. “Importantly, the court also finds that Google has exercised its monopoly power by charging supracompetitive prices for general search text ads.”

Through the distribution agreements, Mehta said that Google was able to disincentivize potential competitors and maintain its dominance in the industry.  

Mehta did rule that Google did not have a monopoly in the market for search advertising. The judge will now have to come up with an order to address the monopoly, the Wall Street Journal reported. 

Google plans to appeal the ruling, with Alphabet Global Affairs President Kent Walker saying that the court was penalizing Google for its success. 

“This decision recognizes that Google offers the best search engine, but concludes that we shouldn’t be allowed to make it easily available,” he said. “As this process continues, we will remain focused on making products that people find helpful and easy to use.”

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Joining the DOJ in its lawsuit, which was first filed in 2020, was a coalition of 38 states and territories, including a number of Republican-led states. 

Attorney General Merrick Garland celebrated the decision. “This victory against Google is an historic win for the American people,” he said. “No company — no matter how large or influential — is above the law.”

Google has also been scrutinized in recent years over allegations of political bias against conservatives. In recent weeks, lawmakers questioned the tech giant after search recommendations did not autocomplete searches for information about the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.