The US Department of Justice opened a high-stakes antitrust trial against Google on Tuesday, alleging that it has hampered internet search competition and innovation. The largest US antitrust trial in 25 years.
In 10 weeks, federal and state attorneys general will try to establish that Google distorted the market by making its search engine the default on numerous platforms and devices. Early next year, US District Judge Amit Mehta will decide. If the court finds Google guilty of antitrust violations, a further trial will restrict its monopoly.
According to Department of Justice senior lawyer Kenneth Dintzer, per AP News, the Google antitrust trial concerns "the future of the internet and whether Google's search engine will ever face meaningful competition."
The trial may include key Google workers and Alphabet Inc. leaders. Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, who succeeded Larry Page four years ago, is one. Court documents suggest Apple executive Eddy Cue may testify.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 12: Jonathan Kanter, Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division, arrives at federal court on September 12, 2023 in Washington, DC. Google will defend its default search deals in an antitrust trial against the U.S. Justice Department which begins today.
Google Accused of Monopoly
Under the Donald Trump administration, the US Department of Justice began a Google antitrust trial over three years ago, alleging that it had used its search dominance to acquire an unfair competitive advantage. Government attorneys claim that Google's monopoly is maintained through large payments, making it the default search engine on the iPhone and web browsers like Safari and Firefox, per ABC News.
In addition, authorities claim that Google illegally manipulated the market by mandating smartphone makers include its search engine with Android software in return for access to the Android app store.
Dintzer emphasized, "Google's contracts ensure that rivals cannot match the search quality and monetization, especially on phones," as quoted in the report. He added In such a "feedback loop," Google has constantly benefitted for over 12 years.
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Consistently denying any wrongdoing, Google has called the US Department of Justice's case "deeply flawed" and warned that it may lead to lower-quality search alternatives, higher phone charges, and a smaller selection of search engines for consumers.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 12: Kent Walker, President of Global Affairs and Chief legal officer of Alphabet Inc., arrives at federal court on September 12, 2023, in Washington, DC.
A Landmark Case
The Google antitrust trial, which is anticipated to run at least nine weeks, will be an important test for the Justice Department under the Biden administration as it attempts to control the allegedly anti-competitive actions of large internet firms like Apple, Amazon, and Meta.
According to a CBS News report, it started only a few weeks after Google's initial investment, a $100,000 check from Sun Microsystems co-founder Andy Bechtolsheim, celebrated its 25th anniversary. That funding allowed Larry Page and Sergey Brin to start the firm in a Silicon Valley garage.
Currently, the parent company of Google, Alphabet, is valued at $1.7 trillion with 182,000 employees. It generates $224 billion in yearly ad revenues from its leading search engine.
In 1998, authorities accused Microsoft of forcing computer makers to include Internet Explorer with Windows, stifling competition from Netscape. Google faces a similar antitrust complaint.
Kenneth Dintzer, the chief attorney for the Department of Justice in the Google case, and other members of the legal team participated in the Microsoft probe.
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