Judge declares Google has an illegal monopoly in Internet search

A federal judge from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has ruled that Google has violated U.S. antitrust laws by maintaining a monopoly in the online search market.

On Tuesday, Judge Amit Mehta concurred with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) that Google holds a monopoly in “general search services” and the general search text ads market.

“After thoroughly reviewing the witness testimony and evidence, the court has concluded that Google is a monopolist and has acted to sustain its monopoly,” the ruling stated.

The court found that Google controls approximately 90 percent of the online search market and 95 percent of the market on smartphones, marking the end of a lengthy legal battle.

The DOJ first sued Google in 2020 over its dominance in online search, marking the first major antitrust action against a major corporation in a generation.

“This landmark decision holds Google accountable,” said DOJ Antitrust Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter. “It paves the way for future innovation and ensures access to information for all Americans.”

Kent Walker, Google’s President of Global Affairs, announced the company’s intention to appeal Mehta’s ruling, arguing that while the decision acknowledges Google’s superior search engine, it unfairly restricts its availability.

“As this process continues, we will remain focused on creating products that people find useful and accessible,” Walker said.

The next phase of proceedings will determine potential remedies, which could include breaking up Google’s parent company, Alphabet. A separate antitrust trial concerning Google’s advertising technology is scheduled to begin on September 9 in Virginia.

Additionally, Amazon, Apple, and Meta are now facing monopolization lawsuits from the U.S. government.