The US Department of Justice (DOJ) and Google are presenting final arguments in an antitrust trial over Google's dominance in online search. The DOJ is seeking remedies to restore competition, including potentially selling Chrome browser or sharing search data. Google argues these proposals are excessive and go beyond what's legally justified.
The trial centers around Google's alleged abuse of power as a monopoly to dominate the search engine business. The DOJ claims Google's exclusive contracts with device manufacturers and browsers harm competition, while Google defends its agreements as procompetitive.
Judge Amit Mehta's decision is expected to have significant implications for the tech industry. The outcome and exact impact will likely take years to determine, with Google announcing plans to appeal the ruling.
The case has been ongoing, and in August 2024, Judge Mehta ruled that Google maintained an illegal monopoly in online search markets, violating Section 2 of the Sherman Act. The court's decision credited Google's innovation and investment in search but found that its exclusive agreements with device manufacturers and browsers allowed it to unlawfully maintain its monopoly.
