The United States government is taking on one of the world’s most powerful tech companies—Google—in a high-stakes antitrust trial that could reshape the future of the internet. Here’s everything you need to know about the case, broken down into five essential points.
1. What’s the Case About?
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), along with several state attorneys general, is accusing Google of illegally maintaining a monopoly in the online search and search advertising markets. The government claims Google has used its dominance to squash competition and preserve its search engine as the default option across devices and platforms, especially on smartphones and browsers like Safari and Chrome.
2. Why Is This Important?
This is the most significant antitrust case against a tech company in over two decades—comparable to the DOJ’s case against Microsoft in the late 1990s. The outcome could determine whether Google must restructure parts of its business, potentially setting a precedent for future actions against other tech giants like Amazon, Apple, and Meta.
3. What Is Google Accused Of Doing?
At the heart of the trial are Google’s deals with phone manufacturers, browser companies, and wireless providers. For example, Google pays Apple billions annually to keep its search engine as the default on Safari. The DOJ argues that these exclusive agreements block competitors like Bing and DuckDuckGo from gaining a foothold, thereby stifling innovation and limiting consumer choice.
4. Google’s Defense
Google claims its dominance is not due to foul play but to the quality of its product. The company argues that users choose Google because it works better, not because they’re forced to use it. Google also insists that partnerships like the one with Apple are legal and standard industry practice, and that users are free to change their default search engine if they wish.
5. What Happens Next?
The trial, which began in 2023, is expected to continue through much of 2025. A ruling could lead to sweeping remedies, such as breaking up parts of Google’s business or imposing new restrictions on its contracts. Whatever the outcome, the trial is a major moment in the ongoing debate about the power of Big Tech—and whether governments should rein it in.
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