A federal judge has ruled that Google violated US antitrust law through its search business, marking a significant court defeat that could transform how millions of Americans access information online and challenge the company’s prolonged dominance.
The US District Court for the District of Columbia delivered a decisive critique of Google’s foundational business, which the company has fortified with billions invested in exclusive contracts, creating a near-monopoly as the default search engine on smartphones and web browsers.
These contracts have stifled competition from potential challengers like Microsoft’s Bing and DuckDuckGo, according to allegations made in a landmark antitrust lawsuit initiated during the Trump administration.
US District Judge Amit Mehta stated that Google’s stronghold has resulted in anticompetitive practices that need to be curtailed. In his opinion, Mehta noted, “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. It has violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act.”
