U.S. Judge Gives Anti-Monopoly Ruling Against Google

On Monday, August 5, a federal U.S. judge ruled that Google has illegally monopolised two key markets: search and text advertising. This landmark decision is the first major anti-monopoly ruling against a tech giant in decades.

The case, initiated by the government in 2020, alleged that Google maintained its dominance through anti-competitive practices, including creating barriers to entry and a feedback loop that entrenched its market share. The court found Google in violation of Section 2 of the Sherman Act, which prohibits monopolistic behaviour.

In 2020, Google was the target of parallel but distinct antitrust lawsuits by the Department of Justice and a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general from 38 states and territories, headed by Colorado and Nebraska.

The court’s ruling focused on Google’s exclusive search agreements with Android and Apple’s iPhone and iPad devices, noting that these are the arrangements that contributed to Google’s anti-competitive practices and market dominance.