It took four years, more than 3,500 exhibits culled from millions of documents, dozens of witnesses and experts, and a nine-week trial to hear what everyone already knew: Google is a “monopolist.” A U.S. federal court found the tech giant guilty of violating the law to maintain its search engine dominance and promoting anticompetitive practices.
At the end of the case, which began in 2020, Judge Amit Mehta said: “Google is a monopolist and is taking steps to maintain that monopoly.” A phrase that sets an important precedent and that has certainly made other “big tech” companies like Meta, Amazon or Apple realize that nothing will be the same from now on.
Alphabet has been proven to manipulate results and force manufacturers to sell their products with the search engine already installed, especially on smartphones. To do this, it has paid billions of euros to multinationals such as Apple and Samsung.
This means that Google, by controlling the online search system almost exclusively in a few countries, has some control over what is or is not available to the public, with the ability to dictate and influence trends.
Alphabet has already stated that it will appeal the decision, so the dispute will be long, and the amount of the fine is not yet known. Some North American media outlets report that the company is preparing significant changes in its structure and that Sundar Pichai should be removed from office.
Google is estimated to have 90% of the global search market and is the leading online advertising system.